Livable Neighborhoods
Summary of
Comprehensive Review
Twenty-seven (27) Evansville neighborhood
associations participated in the Livable Neighborhoods planning process.
Each neighborhood was asked to develop:
Ø A resident description of
their neighborhood
Ø A resent description of
their ideal neighborhood
Ø An agreement on specific
neighborhood goals
Ø An outline of a plan to
reach their goals
Each neighborhood meeting was facilitated by a
community volunteer.
The products of each neighborhood meeting are
attached to this summary.
At the conclusion of the individual neighborhood
planning exercises, the participating neighborhood associations were invited to
participate in a city-wide analysis of the completed Livable Neighborhood
plans, and begin to identify those issues where there was common agreement.
Twenty-five neighborhoods agreed to participate in
the analysis and planning, and were mailed copies of all 27 livable
neighborhood plans.
The following is a summary of the group meeting on
June 28, 2000, and the prioritized list of recommended neighborhood issues.
The group reviewed a grouping of issues drawn from
each neighborhoods Livable Neighborhood Plan summary (see Page 424),
brainstormed alternative grouping of issues, and rank ordered the identified
issues at the end of the meeting (each participant was allowed 4 votes).
Neighborhoods Participating: Akin Park, Alvord Blvd, Ballard,
Culver, Garvinwood, Iroquois Gardens, Jacobsville, Lincoln/Bellemeade, North Country
Club, Oak Hill, Poplar Grove, Star, Tepe, University South, WWBC, Western
Terrace, Wheeler, Willow Road
Number of Participants: 30
Facilitator:
Brenda White
Issues Identified:
1) City
Maintenance
2) Police
Protection and Crime Control
3) Recreation,
Parks, Activities and Green Space
4) Clean Up
and Property Maintenance
5) Preserve
Character of Neighborhood
6) Code
Enforcement
7) Traffic
Parking
8) Social
Unity
9) Slum
Landlord
10) Sidewalks,
Streets, Alleys, Sewers, Curbs, Median Curbs and Trees
11) Elimination
of Nuisance (Dogs, Litter, Cats, Drugs)
12) Area
Beautification
13) Spot
Zoning
Livable
Neighborhoods
Comprehensive
Review
Agreed-Upon
Goals
(Ranked
by Votes)
1)
Preserve
Character of Neighborhood (32 votes)
Neighborhood residents value
the beauty and character of the neighborhoods they choose to invest and/or live
in. It is important to preserve that source of pride and comfort, and protect
it from internal and external forces degrading its character. Issues of
specific concern:
a. Spot
zoning, conflicting with neighborhood values
b. Rental
properties and absentee landlords
c. Home-owner
property maintenance
d. Increasing
social unity and friendliness of neighborhood
2)
City
Maintenance (27 votes)
The City needs to take
better care of neighborhood property under their control and responsibility,
including:
a. Sidewalks
b. Streets
c. Alleys
d. Sewers
e. Curbs and
Median Curbs
f.
Trees
3)
Police
Protection and Crime Control (19 votes)
The police and neighbors
need to work together to make each neighborhood drug and crime free.
a. Drugs
b. Noise
c. Abandoned
Autos
d. Speeding
4)
Code
Enforcement (19)
Neighborhoods need to work closely with the appropriate
City Departments, and the Housing Court, to identify housing and other
neighborhood nuisances and seek their appropriate, timely and legal remedies.
a. Property
Maintenance
b. Elimination
of Nuisance
1. Dogs
2. Litter
3. Cats
4. Rats
5. Sign
Control
5)
Recreation,
Parks, Activities and Green Space (9)
The expansion and improve of
public parks and green space, and the availability of activities for youth in the
neighborhoods
6)
Traffic,
Parking
Concern about congested
traffic patterns and planning, unsafe intersections, speeding violators, and
parking congestion in certain areas of
high traffic.
a. Planning
b. Control
7) Clean and Beautify (0)
Efforts
to clean-up and beautify neighborhoods, in concert with the City and other
community organizations.