Click here to download the Ellis Heights Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan (24 mb)

Located immediately west of Downtown Rockford, the Ellis Heights neighborhood demonstrates the larger struggle by the Rockford region to cope with impacts of economic downturn and population decline. Social indicators for the neighborhood demonstrate decreasing population, decaying housing and increasing fears by families and individuals that they are losing the opportunity to build a safe and secure life. The Ellis Heights Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan presents a path to reverse these negative trends and create a neighborhood full of opportunity and choice.

Developed by members of the neighborhood, working under the leadership of the Rockford Housing Authority (RHA), the recipient of a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant, our Plan sets forth a positive vision for the future that can be obtained by pursuing community-based initiatives that address infrastructure reinvestment, housing redevelopment, improved education opportunities, job creation, health and human services, and public safety. Most importantly, our Plan does not presume that success can occur in a vacuum. It stresses coordination and integration with significant ongoing city and regional programs, and a reorientation of the neighborhood from one of isolation to one directly linked to the heart of the community.

Our work for the Rockford Housing Authority is complete with the acceptance of the Transformation Plan by HUD, but we have continued to provide informal assistance such as connecting RHA with a potential non-profit grocery store developer, and forwarding information on potential funding opportunities to support implementation of specific programs and projects.

Click here to view the Mobile, Alabama Southside Choice Neighborhoods Project Website

The Southside Choice Neighborhoods Plan will employ a comprehensive approach to neighborhood planning by revitalizing the distressed Thomas James Place, R.V. Taylor Plaza, and Boykin Tower while investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs.

Early in the Rosewood Choice planning process, Camiros led a Community Workshop utilizing a unique Story Boarding approach to identifying neighborhood assets. Each group consisted of approximately eight community members who identified physical, social, cultural and economic neighborhood-valued assets within the Rosewood community.

Children are a constituency often overlooked in design development outreach. In collaboration with Communities in Schools and Lifeworks, HACA held several focus groups with Rosewood Courts youth in 2013. The youth discussed the things that are important to them as their neighborhood changes and grows, amenities and services they would like to see as part of a new Rosewood Courts, as well as their concerns about potential changes.

In April 2014, a Kids Design Meeting was held to develop ideas for play areas and green spaces that could be incorporated into the Rosewood Courts site plan as design development proceeds.

Finally, Rosewood youth will assist in a video project to provide information on the Rosewood Choice Neighborhoods initiative and other HACA programs, by learning about film-making and assisting the film crew.

This Planning Handbook is a guide to the Rosewood Choice Neighborhoods planning process. It describes how to go about envisioning a great neighborhood along with the necessary steps in developing a complete plan.

The Planning Handbook is a tool that interested community residents, organizations, local businesses and service providers can use to help build a plan. It describes the elements of a good plan, the steps to be taken to develop it and the role of the community and planning professionals in preparing the plan.

Click here to download the Rosewood Neighborhood Planning Handbook in English (18 mb)

Click here to download the Rosewood Neighborhood Planning Handbook in Spanish (18 mb)