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.
The HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative employs a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation through the revitalization of distressed public housing and the creation of economic, social, physical, and educational initiatives. Through this initiative, planners and community groups are working to turn distressed housing and long neglected neighborhoods into viable and sustainable mixed-income communities that support positive outcomes for families.
In this program, Adam Rosa, AICP, of Camiros compared and contrasted planning efforts in two different Choice Neighborhoods. He shared the strategies that are being employed in the troubled Ellis Heights neighborhood of Rockford, Illinois, to foster positive neighborhood change through the arts and online entrepreneurship (including a strategic relationship with Etsy.com). In addition, he discussed the creative techniques being used to address the distinct challenge of gentrification in the rapidly changing Rosewood community of Austin, Texas.
Often, there is stark contrast between the neighborhoods of ‘have’ and ‘have-not.’ Some neighborhoods are rich in public facilities, transportation options, natural features and shopping choices. Others are not. Some neighborhoods must plead for private investment to lift them up and out of the economic doldrums, while others are inundated by a tide of gentrification, creating environments that are no longer affordable for long term residents. Despite their differences, both types of neighborhoods often share a common set of challenges when it comes to better integrating public housing into the neighborhood fabric, and improving the quality of life for residents.
It is an examination of these contrasts and similarities that is of interest here; how different neighborhoods and communities address the process of transformation while accommodating the needs of lower income residents. This challenge has come into focus as HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods program seeks to improve public housing projects in communities across the country, better integrating them into the neighborhood fabric, and creating opportunities for new investment, job creation, and enhanced quality of life.
Current Rosewood Courts residents are HACA’s key constituency and bringing them meaningfully into the planning process was a high priority. In order to engage Rosewood Courts residents, and more importantly to improve their ability to articulate their desires for Rosewood Courts and the surrounding neighborhood during meetings with more vocal and long-standing neighborhood groups, a number of activities were undertaken to improve their capacity and ability to participate in planning. The planning team met with only Rosewood Courts residents on multiple occasions to solicit ideas, information and opinions about what a new Rosewood Courts should look like. Austin Interfaith mentored residents so that they could express their views concerning the future of Rosewood Courts before HACA’s Board of Commissioners and the Texas Historical Commission and in community planning meetings. This effort to build capacity of Rosewood Courts residents to actively participate in planning for the future has been a hallmark of the planning process.
Training was conducted with the Rosewood Courts Resident Council and other interested residents. These trainings provided basic information on understanding power, credentialing, qualities of leaders, levels of leadership, how to gather information on issues of cross-cutting concerns at Rosewood Courts. Outside of the apprenticeship program, approximately 10 residents attended a “house meeting” with Austin Interfaith and HACA Choice Neighborhoods staff to share their particular concerns and experiences regarding employment and childcare. The meeting assessed the interest of participants in canvassing other Rosewood Courts residents regarding their experiences with these particular issues.
Residents also went on a bus tour of other affordable housing projects throughout Austin to see what is possible at Rosewood Courts. Everyone was encouraged to stay involved in the planning process and has been kept informed through a monthly newsletter, The Rosewood Report.
Creating a Plan that can actually transform a neighborhood is a daunting task – one that must begin with a vision that is embraced not just by those who live in the neighborhood, but those who will be asked to invest in its future. Rockford’s Choice Neighborhoods Planning process began with a number of committed partners at the table. We worked diligently to make sure that neighborhood residents were actively involved in developing the Ellis Heights Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan. The goal has been to plan with rather than for the neighborhood.
An integrated and comprehensive approach was used to develop the Ellis Heights Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan. We engaged residents of the Fairground Valley Apartments and surrounding Ellis Heights neighborhood as well as a variety of organizational stakeholders including the City of Rockford (police, planning, Mayor, public works, health and human services), Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning (RMAP), Rockford Public Schools, Rockford Park District, Winnebago County Health Department, Rockford Health Council, Rock Valley College, faith-based groups and a cross section of other service providers active in the area. Five major community meetings were held to allow the planning team to explain the planning process, understand neighborhood, issues and challenges and opportunities and identify strategies for improvement. A planning Task Force made up of key organizational stakeholders also met on a regular basis to build upon the work accomplished at the community meetings. These partners have continued to help refine Plan projects and make commitments for their implementation.
