Improving Neighborhoods
Here's a thoughtful example of improving a neighborhood.
One good approach:
* Talk to the residents in the neighborhood.
* Identify neighborhood assets to build around.
* Identify neighborhood lacks or problems to address.
* An excellent improvement option is to offer matching grants to anyone who wants to beautify their front yard (or if you have a block of core-facing houses, the back yard). Plant trees, a flower garden, a rain garden; put out a bench or Little Free Library; repair a battered old driveway, etc.
Looking at the sample map, I first note three large green areas at the bottom but nothing higher up. I would aim to place smaller parks near the two upper corners and at least one toward the middle. As there are several blank spots on the map, it looks like there are empty lots available for this purpose. Can we put a garden store, birdfeeder store, nature gift shop, photography gallery, or other small business facing a park to take advantage of the nature-loving traffic there? Could we diversify public greenspace with other offerings such as a wildlife garden, native plant display, community garden, or raingarden system emptying into a stormwater pond?
Next, the church has been identified as a center of community. Conveniently, it's near the middle of the neighborhood. I would first look at ways to maximize the use of the church building and grounds. Can it house group meetings during off hours? If it has a playground, can we use that until a central park is created? Then I would closely examine all the buildings within one block on all sides of the church. Are there any empty lots we could turn into a park? Is there an abandoned parking lot that could become a plaza? Are there any empty buildings we could turn into a community center, senior or youth center, library, or other amenities? Is there anywhere we could increase density by adding a cute small-business small-business building or a small multiplex that matches the local color?
Community transit is helpful. Currently the church is the most likely place to have an ADA shuttlebus and/or van. If so, consider expanding the community motor pool. If not, start there; the ADA van will give the most bang-for-buck in transporting wheelchairs, furniture, or mass cargo. A pickup service for residents who don't drive or otherwise rarely get out can reduce loneliness, improve quality of life, and increase traffic at local businesses or events.
Consider connectivity. Where are attraction points in or near the neighborhood? It has a church and a nearby college. Examine the streets. Is there a connecting line where we could:
* Make that street more inviting for human-powered travel?
* Create a program to promote small businesses?
* Make a walkable/bikeable promenade with back or side street access for ADA and deliveries?
* Fill an empty lot with townhouses that have front porches or live-work buildings that have business windows facing each other across a pleasant street?
Sample walk/bike setup facing the college entry point, the church, or another high-traffic area:
* Walk beautiful Hilltop!
Pedestrian facilities: benches every 25' on Pedestrian Promenade, every corner otherwise; padded footing at main bus stop
Color-coded routes: 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles
Attractions: Pedestrian Promenade, Little Free Library Loop
* Bike beautiful Hilltop!
Color-coded routes: 1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles
Bike facilities: Bob's Bike Shop, bike wash & repair station at church, bike rack at main bus stop
Attractions: Will Park, Rowdies Skate Dot, Harmony Mural
Refreshments: Diane's Diner, Java Joint
Shopping: Hattie's Houseplants, Theriffic Thrifts, Golden Dragon Groceries
Other: Community Church, George's Small Engine Repair Garage
Routes can be indicated with distance markers, color-coded markers, or paint. A trailhead sign is helpful and offers a place to provide brochures or other information.
Capitalize on that college to the east. College students walk, bike, or bus far more than they drive. We could:
* Analyze mass-transit service in the neighborhood. If low, lobby for increasing it.
* Put a bench, a shelter, and a bike rack or garage everywhere there is just a bare sign for a bus stop.
* Mark walking and biking paths through the neighborhood.
* Build some affordable apartments on the edge facing campus.
* Does the campus have any married-student housing? If not, the neighborhood could meet that need and maybe get the college to go halfsies on the cost of building it.
* Focus businesses on the college-facing side of the neighborhood on things that students like. Restaurants, bookstores, gameshops, a coffeehouse, a bike or sports shop, etc.
* Also to try direct student attention toward the business strip or promenade to increase customer flow to those areas.
By concentrating improvements in a few areas, we can minimize costs and target different goals. This also means people who want a livelier environment can hug the business streets while a block or two away it will be much quieter.
One good approach:
* Talk to the residents in the neighborhood.
* Identify neighborhood assets to build around.
* Identify neighborhood lacks or problems to address.
* An excellent improvement option is to offer matching grants to anyone who wants to beautify their front yard (or if you have a block of core-facing houses, the back yard). Plant trees, a flower garden, a rain garden; put out a bench or Little Free Library; repair a battered old driveway, etc.
Looking at the sample map, I first note three large green areas at the bottom but nothing higher up. I would aim to place smaller parks near the two upper corners and at least one toward the middle. As there are several blank spots on the map, it looks like there are empty lots available for this purpose. Can we put a garden store, birdfeeder store, nature gift shop, photography gallery, or other small business facing a park to take advantage of the nature-loving traffic there? Could we diversify public greenspace with other offerings such as a wildlife garden, native plant display, community garden, or raingarden system emptying into a stormwater pond?
Next, the church has been identified as a center of community. Conveniently, it's near the middle of the neighborhood. I would first look at ways to maximize the use of the church building and grounds. Can it house group meetings during off hours? If it has a playground, can we use that until a central park is created? Then I would closely examine all the buildings within one block on all sides of the church. Are there any empty lots we could turn into a park? Is there an abandoned parking lot that could become a plaza? Are there any empty buildings we could turn into a community center, senior or youth center, library, or other amenities? Is there anywhere we could increase density by adding a cute small-business small-business building or a small multiplex that matches the local color?
Community transit is helpful. Currently the church is the most likely place to have an ADA shuttlebus and/or van. If so, consider expanding the community motor pool. If not, start there; the ADA van will give the most bang-for-buck in transporting wheelchairs, furniture, or mass cargo. A pickup service for residents who don't drive or otherwise rarely get out can reduce loneliness, improve quality of life, and increase traffic at local businesses or events.
Consider connectivity. Where are attraction points in or near the neighborhood? It has a church and a nearby college. Examine the streets. Is there a connecting line where we could:
* Make that street more inviting for human-powered travel?
* Create a program to promote small businesses?
* Make a walkable/bikeable promenade with back or side street access for ADA and deliveries?
* Fill an empty lot with townhouses that have front porches or live-work buildings that have business windows facing each other across a pleasant street?
Sample walk/bike setup facing the college entry point, the church, or another high-traffic area:
* Walk beautiful Hilltop!
Pedestrian facilities: benches every 25' on Pedestrian Promenade, every corner otherwise; padded footing at main bus stop
Color-coded routes: 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles
Attractions: Pedestrian Promenade, Little Free Library Loop
* Bike beautiful Hilltop!
Color-coded routes: 1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles
Bike facilities: Bob's Bike Shop, bike wash & repair station at church, bike rack at main bus stop
Attractions: Will Park, Rowdies Skate Dot, Harmony Mural
Refreshments: Diane's Diner, Java Joint
Shopping: Hattie's Houseplants, Theriffic Thrifts, Golden Dragon Groceries
Other: Community Church, George's Small Engine Repair Garage
Routes can be indicated with distance markers, color-coded markers, or paint. A trailhead sign is helpful and offers a place to provide brochures or other information.
Capitalize on that college to the east. College students walk, bike, or bus far more than they drive. We could:
* Analyze mass-transit service in the neighborhood. If low, lobby for increasing it.
* Put a bench, a shelter, and a bike rack or garage everywhere there is just a bare sign for a bus stop.
* Mark walking and biking paths through the neighborhood.
* Build some affordable apartments on the edge facing campus.
* Does the campus have any married-student housing? If not, the neighborhood could meet that need and maybe get the college to go halfsies on the cost of building it.
* Focus businesses on the college-facing side of the neighborhood on things that students like. Restaurants, bookstores, gameshops, a coffeehouse, a bike or sports shop, etc.
* Also to try direct student attention toward the business strip or promenade to increase customer flow to those areas.
By concentrating improvements in a few areas, we can minimize costs and target different goals. This also means people who want a livelier environment can hug the business streets while a block or two away it will be much quieter.