Community Development in Middle Market Neighborhoods March 27, 2015

Agenda Introductions Context Community Planning Best Practice Example: Baltimore’s Healthy Neighborhoods Evaluation Small Group Discussion

Building a St. Louis Regional Community Development System Presentation to the Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis and Metropolitan St. Louis CRA Association

Background CBN and MSLCRA agreed to a task force at the end of 2013 Members from each association plus foundation and CDFI representatives met throughout 2014 Recommendations proposed in a report completed in December of 2014

Task Force Report Best Practices from Similar Regions Practitioner Experience Local Assets

Proposed Community Development System

Recommendations Public policy, community investment, and community development initiatives should be guided by a commitment to two broad strategies 1.a comprehensive community development approach tailored to more distressed communities; 2.targeted community improvement grants and activity, marketing, and below-market rate lending approach to middle neighborhoods

Community Based Planning and Neighborhood Outreach Strategies

“With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.” -Abraham Lincoln Community Based Planning Neighborhood Planning Team Community Outreach Strategies Best Practices in Neighborhood Planning Timeline of Public Engagement Campaign Example

Community Based Planning Provide Strategies and Projects for Investment and Improvement (market research) Guides actions of lead agency Basis for Community Consensus Gives community negotiating upper hand Led by a task force/steering committee with 5 major meetings and community outreach

Community Based Planning Vision statement Statement of existing conditions History of the area Description of existing conditions Statement of issues Policies Goals & Objectives Implementation of actions Identification of resources Charts and maps showing existing and proposed conditions Methods to monitor, evaluate and update the plan

Neighborhood Planning Team Group of individuals representative of the neighborhood that include: Homeowners, Business owners, Renters, Property owners who live outside of the neighborhood and representatives from neighborhood institutions and associations, lmi population, elderly Ideally ten to twelve is best number Responsibilities include: participates in plan development and implementation develop outreach strategy advocate for planning process confirm plan goals, objectives, and action items listen to all points of view before making decisions

Neighborhood Planning Team Questionnaire 1.What are the five most significant issues that affect the neighborhood? 2. What are the three best things about your neighborhood? 3. What types of additions to your neighborhood would make it a better place? 4. What single physical improvement to the neighborhood, such as tree planting, benches for a park or playground equipment would make the neighborhood a better place? 5. What five goals should be included in the neighborhood plan?

Neighborhood Planning Team Best Practices Clear understanding and basic procedures for the team so they understand how meetings should be conducted Be aware of individuals who want to leverage their agenda over the agenda of the overall community Interpret the issues and data, not personalities and personal agendas Assess strengths and weaknesses of stakeholders prior to selection of neighborhood planning team Team building among the members is very important to creating effective working relationships

Outreach Strategies for Public Engagement Open houses – yard signs, flyers, ads, and posters Pop up meetings at community events (piggyback) Press releases Social Media (nextdoor, neighborhood association group) Newsletter Direct Mail One on one meetings are more effective than mailings

Public Engagement at the Open House Boards in library or other public place where people can put ideas Have people vote on what they think are the major areas of concern Keep people moving from station to station; prevents grandstanding Children’s area Food/refreshements close to survey/comment cards

Best Practices for Public Engagement Build enthusiasm for the project and target people where they are Make it fun! Childcare Engage the kids in a fun activity related to the plan Keep meetings concise and focused with assigned roles (faciltator, scribes, and time tracker) Include all segments of the community including those who don’t live in the neighborhood but may be affected by its plan (adjacent communities, business owners, clergy, income, homeowner, renter) Realistic timeline – let people know this process can take up to a year ideally

Public Engagement Timeline Example (1 year) Open House 1 Explain Comprehensive Plan Stations for Public Input Questionnaire Open House 2 Review data from open house 1 Identify major areas of concern Open House 3 Identify goals and objectives to specific issues for areas of concern Open House 4 Present summary findings to public and elicit final feedback Pop up meetings – community center, library, farmers’ market One on one meetings – Senior Center, clergy, social groups Website, Postcard, Social Media

Sources LISC’s Planning Handbook Super Neighborhood Plan Workbooks, City of Abilene, TX Westside Grows Together

Healthy Neighborhoods: A Best Practice Model for Middle Neighborhoods

Evaluating Middle Neighborhood Improvement Strategies

Healthy Neighborhoods Indicators of Success Number of building permits Median listing price Median days on the market Number of units sold Percentage of vacant and abandoned buildings

Other Indicators Resident commitment to the neighborhood Questions: How committed are you to your neighborhood? Would you recommend your neighborhood to another person? Are you engaged with your neighbors, community groups, or act in the community benefit? Positive news regarding the neighborhood Population Crime and Safety Impact of community improvement projects (indicators will vary)

Data Websites tml tml

Small Group Discussion