Livable Neighborhood Summary

 

 

1.  Neighborhood:  POPLAR GROVE

 

2. Date of Meeting:   June 20, 2000

 

3.  Number of Participants:  29 association members

 

4.  Facilitator:  Paul Farmer

 

5.  Boundaries of Neighborhood:  Claremont Ave. – Lloyd – Tekoppel Ave. - Barker

 

6. Residents’ Description of their Neighborhood: 

 

Ø      Active churches

Ø      Responsible home owners

Ø      No heavy industry

Ø      Good streets

Ø      Give neighborhood awards

Ø      Day care and “Mothers time out” service

Ø      Church gym open to young people (on occasion)

Ø      Young families moving in

Ø      Good Schools (public and Catholic)

Ø      Friendly neighborhood

Ø      New storm sewers

Ø      Many garners

Ø      People watch out for each other

Ø      Access to:  Grocery Stores Public Transportation   

Pharmacy                     Bank

Restaurants                   Churches

 

Descriptions of “Ideal Neighborhood”:

 

Ø      New sidewalks and more (Curbs, gutters – sidewalks are lower than the streets causing water run-off problems.)

Ø      Off street parking for college students who rent houses in the area

Ø      Home improvements of dilapidated homes

Ø      Keeping dogs and cats on peoples own property

Ø      Park with a community building

Ø      Better alleys (cleaner, surface graded, water run-off stopped, lighted)

Ø      Less rental properties (currently 20%)

Ø      Nursing home facility in the neighborhood

 

 

 

Agreed-Upon Goals:

 

1. Sidewalks, Curbs, Alley Surface, Water and Curbing

2. Better Air Quality (Odor from treatment plant)

3. Park Area with Community Building

4. Less Rental Properties

5. Improving Dilapidated Homes and Properties

 

 

9.   Goals, Objectives and Responsibilities:

 

Goal #1:  SIDEWALKS, CURBS, ALLEY SURFACE , WATER AND     

                 CURBING

           

Neighborhood Objectives:

 

Ø      Association will develop a plan with specific areas that need attention.

Ø      City will be contacted and be presented with the plan.

Ø      Association and appropriate city departments will work together to solve the problem.

 

Goal #2:  BETTER AIR QUALITY (ODOR FROM TREATMENT PLANT)

 

            Neighborhood Objectives:

 

Ø      Association will meet with appropriate city department to determine the reason for the problem.

Ø      The association will contact IDEM to find suggestions for solving the problem.

 

Goal #3:  PARK AREA WITH COMMUNITY BUILDING

 

            Neighborhood Objectives:

 

Ø      Association will assist in finding a location for a possible site.

Ø      Work with Parks Department to develop a plan for the neighborhood needs.

Ø      Association will pursue alternatives that may be available for the building.

Ø      Association will help with necessary fund raising.

 

Goal #4:  LESS RENTAL PROPERTIES

 

            Neighborhood Objectives:

 

Ø      Association will study this issue for further information and action.

 

Goal #5:  IMPROVING DILAPIDATED HOMES AND PROPERTY

 

            Neighborhood Objectives:

 

Ø      Association will study this problem to determine more information

Ø      Association will notify land owners to keep up property

Ø      Association will monitor “tax sales” if the homes are on the list

Ø      Association will work with ECHO Housing, Habitat and CHOICE  to determine possible development.