Fostering Neighborhood Revitalization and Expanding Opportu - PowerPoint Presentation

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Fostering Neighborhood Revitalization and Expanding Opportunity

Presentation to:City of Columbus – Planning DepartmentAugust 19th 2008Jason Reece, AICPSenior ResearcherThe Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & EthnicityThe Ohio State UniversityReece.35@osu.eduwww.kirwaninstitute.org

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Today’s Discussion

More on Kirwan and our Neighborhood Revitalization ResearchNeighborhood Revitalization in ColumbusTrends, issues and conditions in ColumbusKey Strategies/Principles for Neighborhood RevitalizationEmerging Challenges2Slide3

More on Kirwan

3BackgroundCommunity Development WorkOpportunity Based Model of community developmentMoving people to opportunity; building/nurturing opportunity in distressed neighborhoodsRecent Neighborhood Revitalization ProjectsLand Bank Advising - DetroitCleveland Regionalism and Equity Initiative

The Columbus Foundation – Neighborhood Revitalization AssessmentWest Baltimore – Neighborhood University InitiativeSlide4

Neighborhood Revitalization

4General Issues/Concerns in all ProjectsCommon challengesConcentrated poverty, limited opportunity, disinvestmentLarger market forces are criticalMovement back to the city; gas prices and urban living (+)Housing market trends & foreclosures (-)Geographic context is critical

Both within the city and when thinking about the regionLanguage, Framing and Definitions are Important

Avoid the terminology-concept of gentrificationWe still need to define successful (and equitable) revitalizationSlide5

Neighborhood Revitalization

5General Issues/Concerns (continued)Limited public resourcesMust be strategically usedMust catalyze private investment/individual actionSocial/Organizational/Human capital criticalNeighborhood leadership and technical capabilityIssues outside of the direct influence of neighborhood planning are criticalPublic safety (crime) and educational opportunitySlide6

Neighborhood Revitalization

6General Issues/Concerns (continued)A combination of elements provide the best opportunity for revitalizationSlide7

Neighborhood Revitalization in Columbus – Trends, Issues & Conditions

7Tale of two citiesOld Columbus vs. NewIn the Central City (Stable-Revitalizing vs. Challenged)Common challenges across neighborhoodsHousing qualityVacant property/foreclosureEconomic development/povertyPublic safety/educationInfrastructure needs/public spaces (parks)Slide8

Tale of Two Cities: Old vs. New Cols.

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Tale of Two Cities: Revitalized vs. Challenged

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Neighborhood Revitalization in Columbus – Trends, Issues & Conditions

10Macro level issuesColumbus is a relatively healthier region than its regional peersAlthough statewide housing and economic challenges may be reducing this conditionSlide11

Neighborhood Revitalization in Columbus – Challenges and Needs

11Stakeholder observations:We must successfully define what revitalization is to successfully inform strategies. The process of resident engagement is critical -- many neighborhood residents do not feel engaged or like real partners in the planning process and redevelopment activities. Gentrification is a real threat in some areas; redevelopment should not force out residents; proactively thinking about efforts to avoid widespread displacement early is critical to avoid this threat. Social inclusion and equity (fairness) for local residents must be part of the driving goals for revitalization.Reinvestment activity must be focused on the long term (long term goals, multi-year). Slide12

Neighborhood Revitalization in Columbus – Trends, Issues & Conditions

12Stakeholder observationsLocal capacity building: Local organizing capabilities and capacity were identified as critical ingredients to effectively guide redevelopment initiatives and to engage local residents. Although local organizing and capacity is crucial, most respondents felt that this capacity was disorganized and in need of significant additional resources. Several examples were noted: Scale up issue: not enough funds existed  to build on successful programs and initiatives. Connection / information sharing: Not enough networking to share best practices and success stories among local organizations. Community organizations and representation critical, but existing organizations are stretched and lack sufficient resources.

Park , open space and public meeting spaces were critical to help build community and spur community engagement, but these resources were lacking and often not maintained in most distressed communities.

The most significant hurdle for local organizations is moving from an all-volunteer organization to funding permanent staff. Slide13

Neighborhood Revitalization in Columbus – Trends, Issues & Conditions

13Several existing programs and neighborhood assets were identified as beneficial and critical to promoting revitalization. Historic character of housing stock is critical in determining suitability for revitalization, historic housing stock was a crucial asset to spur revitalizationThe Mayor’s Home Again program and Neighborhood Pride programs  were often identified as key assets to promoting revitalization in distressed communitiesSystematic code enforcement was often mentioned as a critical tool to address the physical neglect in distressed communitiesSlide14

Potential for Revitalization:Input from local stakeholders

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Strategies for Success

15Define success before interveningEquity “fairness” and inclusion must be an explicit goalAdopt a long term approachAdopt a multi-faceted approachNetwork and support existing local civic organizationsEngage critical stakeholders such as the universities, urban hospitals and major employersFocus on “turning point” neighborhoods

Bring small success to scale

Address specific macro level issuesSupport establishment of anchor institutions/developments

Make catalytic investmentsSlide16

Strategies for Success

16The need to think in a long term and comprehensive manner were summarized by Jonathan Fanton, President of the MacArthur Foundation, at a recent LISC National Leadership Conference last year. “…sustainable neighborhood improvement requires long-term, simultaneous investment in all the issues-schools, housing, health, jobs, economic development, safety, community cohesion, and more-that must improve together in a reinforcing virtuous circle. Practically speaking, this may mean applying a comprehensive lens and working first on the few interventions with the greatest potential to stimulate further change.”Quote taken from remarks made by Jonathan Fanton at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) National Leadership Conference, October 3rd 2007, full remarks available on-line at: http://www.macfound.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=lkLXJ8MQKrH&b=1137397&ct=4498087 Slide17

Strategies for Success

17Improving local organizational capacity: Assist neighborhood organizations in their attempt to “scale up” to an efficient, well-resourced organization with trained and dedicated staff Support an intentional, inclusive networking effort among existing organizations, so that they can share best practices and cut costs by minimizing the “learning curve”Improving educational opportunities:Create new educational opportunities in distressed areas; new outlets for educational opportunity are needed in distressed communitiesAddress early education issues for children in poverty, work on in-school reforms to promote positive educational outcomesSlide18

Strategies for Success

18Economic development: Small business/Minority business development.  Targeting reinvestment in traditional commercial corridors.  Workforce/labor force training and development. Public transportation investments.Housing initiatives:Aggressive and strategic land banking.  Foreclosure prevention activities.  Encouraging market rate housing, homeownership and mixed income development.  Supporting historic preservation. Slide19

Strategies for Success

19Expanding basic services:Provide access to affordable/healthy food. Provide support for community or park space. Promoting public safety: Support community policing activities. Anti-poverty initiatives, redevelopment and vacant property mitigation to address crime. Slide20

Emerging Challenges

20The escalation of the national housing/foreclosure crisis is going to create new challenges in many of these neighborhoods. Hitting “on the fence” neighborhoodsUndermining re-investment/spurring vacancyUndermining community organization/capacitySlide21

Thank you!Please check out our Foreclosure convening in the fall (Oct 2

nd and 3rd)Questions or Comments: Reece.35@osu.edu Visit us on-line at: www.kirwaninstitute.org 21