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ALL-HANDS WORKSHOP

LITTLE ROCK CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD A Community / Partner Conversation. ALL-HANDS WORKSHOP. Metropolitan Housing Alliance Quadel Consulting/TCG Fennell Purifoy Urban Collage December 6, 2012 Thursday, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Introduction. Metropolitan Housing Alliance City Manager.

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ALL-HANDS WORKSHOP

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  1. LITTLE ROCK CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD A Community / Partner Conversation ALL-HANDS WORKSHOP Metropolitan Housing Alliance Quadel Consulting/TCG Fennell Purifoy Urban Collage December 6, 2012 Thursday, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

  2. Introduction Metropolitan Housing Alliance City Manager

  3. “All Hands” Goals • INFORMthe community and the stakeholders about CN process • SHAREthe summary of existing condition assessment and community needs based on data analysis • SEEKfeedback on current issues and vision for the community

  4. Evening Agenda The “Choice Neighborhood GPS” • Where we’ve been • Why we’re doing this • Who is involved • Where we are • Existing conditions analysis • Survey highlights • Where we’re going • Your insights and help to transform a distressed neighborhood to one that is strong, healthy, viable and safe

  5. Where We’ve Been Latonya Wilson, MHA

  6. CN Overview What is Choice Neighborhood? “Choice Neighborhoods grants transform distressed neighborhoods and public and assisted projects into viable and sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods by linking housing improvements with appropriate services, schools, public assets, transportation, and access to jobs.” • Grants • Planning Grants: comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy or Transformation Plan • Implementation Grants: gather and leverage resources from public and private agencies to support the financial sustainability and implementation of the Transformation Plan

  7. The Study Area: Why? 12th Street Corridor Central Business District • Things are happening: • Promise Neighborhood • Neighborhood Stabilization • Sustainable Communities • Pulaski Empowerment Zone • But, there are issues: • Affected by high crime • Physical distressed • Some areas are isolated • Vacancy rate 3.6 times higher than county Promise Neighborhood Pulaski Empowerment Zone Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) 2

  8. Promise vs. Choice

  9. Project Organization Resources Quadel / TCG (Planning Coordinator) Fennel Purifoy Urban Collage Evaluation Hunter Bacot, Institute of Government, UALR MHA Executive Director MHA CN Coordinator Working Group Chairs • Choice Community Council (CCC) • People - CSS • Residents • AR Dept. of Health • AR Children’s Hospital • Central AR Library System • HIPPY • LR Community Mental Health • Stevens Community Center • LR Workforce Investment Board • People - Education • Residents • LR School District • Promise Neighborhood Team • UALR • New Futures for Youth • Neighborhood • Residents • City of Little Rock • CATA • MetroPlan • Chamber of Commerce • LR Police Department • ACHANGE • Downtown Partnerships • Pulaski County EZ • Audubon • Housing • Residents • City of Little Rock • Volunteers of America • LR Landbank • LR Community and Housing Advisory Board

  10. Stakeholder Engagement • CCC Meeting (March, 2012): • Kick-off / organizational meeting in advance of HUD visit • Resident Meeting (April, 2012): • Included in HUD site visit agenda • CCC Meeting (August, 2012): • Update on CN progress, challenges and future steps • Quotes from the meetings • Neighborhood Association Meetings: • Pine to Woodrow • Forest Hills • Love Neighborhood • Stephens Area Faith • Elm Street • Sunset Terrace • Wright Avenue

  11. Resident Responses Concerns Suggested Solutions • Safety for children- bus routes, bullying • Crime (drugs, robbery) • Lack of parental involvement • Transportation • Quality of education/ pace of learning • Need more tutoring • Church/ community support • Too many liquor stores • Increase of home owner’s insurance rates • Abandon Housing • Violence • Prostitution • Alcohol & Liquor Store Ordinances • Police Presence (slow response time) • Information sharing process/ Discriminated info/ Res. • Jobs • Strengthen youth programs/ trade programs • Internal community centers/offices/open space for teaching • Put gym back in school (P.E.) • Community Enrichment classes • More after school programs • More accountability for organizations in places • Sidewalk, street improvement, paved alleys, street lights • Noise ordinance signs • Designated trash drives

  12. Our Dialogue: Education • Issues • Quality of education / Pace of learning • Truancy • Lack of kindergarten readiness • Low 3rd grade reading scores • High drop out rates • Challenges • Staff limitations • Lack of tutoring • Lack of (affordable) after school programs • Increasing parental involvement in child(ren)’s education

  13. Our Dialogue: Safety • Issues • Robbery, drug activity, prostitution • Increase in domestic violence • Illegal dumping, loitering / squatting • Code Enforcement Issue • Challenges • Number of liquor stores • Food Desert • Medical Desert • Underperforming schools

  14. Our Dialogue: Housing • Issues • Abandoned / deteriorated homes • Escalating need for maintenance • Lack of energy efficiency • Need for weatherization • Hard to obtain home owner’s insurance • Challenges • Limited household budgets for home improvements • Lack of federal monies for home improvement

  15. Key Concerns • Education • Makes schools more secure • Reduce / eliminate truancy • Improve educational quality • Safety • Many types of crime common • More officers / quicker response times • Housing • Addressing abandoned housing • Providing maintenance support

  16. Recent Progress • New Children’s Library • Spring 2013 • One of few in the nation • 12th Street Police Substation • Increased Safety Presence • Mixed Use • BCD Empowerment Center • Increased capacity to serve community • Residential Treatment Center • UAMS Clinic • Free medical service • Specializes in treating prevalent illnesses within community

  17. Where We Are Melodee Melin, QuadelConsulting John Skach, Urban Collage Tom Fennell, Fennell PurifoyArchitects

  18. CN Overview • What Are The Components? • People– health and public safety; employment and training; youth and senior services; education and training – cradle to career; high performing schools • Housing – Energy efficient, sustainable, accessible, with internet connectivity; mixed income; physically and financially viable • Neighborhoods– High quality parks and recreational facilities; effective public transit, walking and biking options to connect to work and/or local services; access to economic development and employment opportunities; shopping and neighborhood services; healthy foods.

  19. Typical Process we are here

  20. CN Outcomes • Create a Neighborhood Transformation Plan • MHA will work collaboratively with its partners, CCC members and stakeholders to construct a Neighborhood Transformation Plan which will include Sunset Terrace, Elm Street Apartments, Central High and Stephens Neighborhoods. This plan is needed to apply for the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. • Apply for implementation funds • MHA will apply for a HUD CN Implementation Grant to transform and revitalize the CN community. Submission date: March 2013. • Competition for these grants is intense

  21. Target Sites • Sunset Terrace- Public housing • Building deficiencies – water leaks, cracked foundation, poor grading • Design deficiencies – unit size below avg. for new construction, inefficient use of space, units lack modern amenities • Elm Street - Section 8 • Building deficiencies – roof deck damage, outdated electrical system • Design deficiencies – single point entry to the building, lack of amenities Elm Street Sunset Terrace

  22. Survey Highlights: Elm Street • 29 of 42 households responded • 18 have resided 5 years or less • 28 are employed • Transportation Mode: Walking (13), Biking (10), and Bus (8) - are the primary means • 15 reported no trouble using public transportation but • 15 cited transportation as a barrier for persons with disabilities • 12 reported transportation as a job barrier

  23. Survey Highlights: Elm Street • Job related Training Needs: Small Business Start-up, Computer, Vocational & Job Readiness • Neighborhood needs: Indoor & Outdoor Recreation & Parks • 21 Listed the need for Sidewalk, Paving and Curb repair • Doctor’s office, Library, and Laundromat • Public Safety: 14 feel unsafe walking through the area • Top Health needs: Dental & Eye Care Services • Outdoor facilities Needs: Basketball Court, Passive Park, Landscaping, Community garden • A Gym was the top need followed by Parks, Restaurants, Shopping, Computer Center, Banks

  24. Survey Highlights: Sunset Terrace • 29 of 73 households responded • 20 have resided 0-5 years • Health Care is the primary field of employment • Bus is the primary mode of transportation • Barriers to employment: Transportation, Lack of Training or Education • Training Desired: GED Adult Education, Computer, Job Readiness, Vocational Training, Small Business • Neighborhood Needs: Laundromat, Grocery Store, Doctor’s Offices, Library, Drug Store, Restaurants

  25. Survey Highlights: Sunset Terrace • Barriers for Persons with Disabilities: Transportation, Living Independently, Cost of Health Care and Prescription Drugs; Special Needs Assistance • 25 were Somewhat Happy, Happy or Very Happy with the schools; 18 expressed school safety concerns • 15-21 endorsed the need for youth programs including: Safe sex, job training, weekend programs, jobs programs and others • Health Care: provided by Emergency Room and Primary Doctor • Dental service, Nutrition, Exercise and Weight Loss were the top needs • Neighborhood Needs: Sidewalk & Curb Repairs and Street Lighting. Computer Center, Gym, Grocery Stores, Child Care Centers • 23 want to return to New Development replacing Sunset Terrace

  26. Housing Market • Background • CN area is a very low-income submarket with high demand for rent-subsidized housing units • 58% of all renters and more than 53% of age 65+ renters in the CN area are cost burdened • Family Rental • General occupancy multifamily rental communities currently exhibit high vacancies • High demand for rent-subsidized housing • Senior Rental • Age-restricted rental housing is very limited and fully occupied • Senior rental housing may be the best opportunity for new development

  27. Housing Market: For Sale • Findings • The for-sale market is characterized by low home values and low-sales volume • No homebuilders are currently building in new single or multi-family subdivisions • The CN area’s low-density development pattern complicates designing a project that can have wider positive impacts • Opportunities • Any new for-sale development should be single-family detached in keeping with the CN area • Vacant lots and homes in need of rehabilitation or demolition present the best targets for developing new for-sale housing

  28. Housing Market: Conclusions • Projects with greatest likelihood of success over next 5 years: • Rent subsidized senior community • Replacement general occupancy public housing, either on a multifamily site or scattered detached homes or duplexes • Scattered site for-sale project beginning with no more than a dozen units

  29. Social Profile • Significant population change • Loss of 3,000 residents from 2000 to 2010, current population 11,060 • Limited diversity • 90% African-American • Fairly typical age profile • Biggest age group: 31–45 • 35% population are children and seniors • 26% under 18 (2,879) • 11% over 65 (1,221) • Aging population • Depopulation of younger cohorts; seniors trending upward Population Density Brown – Higher density Beige – Lower density

  30. Economic Profile • Low household income • Median HH income is less than $26k in the CN, compared to $47k in Pulaski • 33% households live below poverty level (~$22K for a family of four) • High unemployment • Entire area has 768 jobs, 4,599 employees mostly in health care, service, education • Only 57 employees live and work in the CN area • Unemployment rate is between 15% to 22% Number of Jobs per Household Grey areas – less than 1 job per HH

  31. Housing Condition • Methodology • Windshield survey of residential buildings in four categories • Analysis based on the number of distressed buildings on a typical street block • Findings • 8% area with serious issues (5-7 buildings) • 15% area with major issues (3-4 buildings) • 41% area with minor issues (1-2 buildings) • 375 boarded up houses (5% total parcels); most in distressed condition • Areas of distress: • Blocks around Central High • Stephens Neighborhood

  32. Vacant Lots • Methodology • Analysis based on the number of vacant lots on a typical street block • Findings • 6% area with serious vacancies (16-34 lots) • 16% area with major vacancies (8-15 lots) • 29% area with minor vacancies (4-7 lots) • 41% area with few vacancies (0-3 lots) • Current long-term vacancy rate is 17.6 • Areas of high vacancy • Stephens Neighborhood • North of Central High

  33. Patterns of Disinvestment • Areas of vacant lots and distressed buildings • 7% area with serious issues • 21% area with major issues • 41% area with minor issues • 22% area with no issues • 375 boarded up houses (5% total parcels); most in distressed condition • Low property values • 63% properties valued at less than $50,00 • Foreclosures • 170 foreclosed properties (2008-2009; blue stars) • Crime • 144 violent crime incidents per1,000 residents (2008-2010; circles)

  34. Neighborhood Assets • General Retail(orange) • Limited to 12th Street and Asher Avenue corridors • Civic / Community (blue) • Scattered throughout • School, university, hospital,, child care, senior care, health facility, etc. • Food Stores (magenta) • Very limited; underserved by restaurants, groceries, food markets, etc. • Recreational • Fourche Creek watershed • Curran Conway Field / Park • Blue stars indicate major assets

  35. Plan Opportunities • Improve connectivity • Better connections to Downtown, north of I-630 and west side • Improve pedestrian connections within the CN area • Economic Development • 12th Street as a walkable, “Complete Street” with retail, mixed-use, health and cultural anchors • Long-term industrial redevelopment along railroad, commercial redevelopment along Asher Avenue • Housing • Leverage MHA / partner sites • Leverage NSP2 and land bank resources High-Density Low-Density Historic District Mid-Density Cultural Anchor Mixed-use node Commercial nodes Health Anchor Economic development Residential development

  36. Housing Goals • Replacement Housing • 1 for 1 replacement • Existing Units: • Sunset Terrace 74 units • Elm Street 50 units • Total 124 units • Possibly strategies • Development of Land-Bank Units • Additional NSP Development • Equity Sharing Loan Program for Owner-Occupied Rehab • Additional Multi-family development

  37. Housing Goals Veterans Home site redevelopment possibilities • Replacement Housing • Possible Scenarios • 40-50 multi-family units • Target elderly and persons with disabilities • Veterans Home or Stephens Elementary Site • 56 SRO units • Rehab existing Elm Street Apartments with 2nd story addition • 34 in-fill family units • Replace Sunset Family units using cluster approach, locate closer to 12th street amenities • 72 new units • 36 on vacant half of Elm St site • 36 on half of Sunset site

  38. Housing Goals • Replacement Housing and Redevelopments • Parks • Playgrounds • Healthy, fresh produce • Physically active lifestyle • Less emphasis on vehicular transportation • Community centers • Closer access to everyday amenities • Afterschool activities • Job training and opportunities

  39. Housing Goals • Replacement Housing • Possible Scenario – Elm street SRO site • Rehab existing SRO with additional second story • Cluster and scattered approach with additional multi and single family housing • 50 SRO units, 33 multi-family units, and 5 single

  40. Where We’re Headed Niti Gajjar, Urban Collage

  41. Building from the Assets

  42. What is your “New Year’s Resolution?” 2013 FIX MY HOUSE??? 2013 LEARN A SKILL??? Participants will be given colorful ribbons to write their vision for the COMMUNITY / NEIGHBORHOOD Write at least 3 RESOLUTIONS that could make a positive difference

  43. What are the challenges / issues? Write the overall neighborhood challenges and specific needs related to – • Education • Health & Wellness • Economy / Jobs • Crime & Safety • Housing • Public Services / Transportation

  44. Issues Mapping On a large map of the CN area, identify “hot spot” issues • Things we want to keep (NO CHANGE) • Things that need to go (CHANGE)

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