Strategic University Partnerships—Using data to drive community development initiatives and measure impact

1. Strategic University Partnerships—Using data to drive community development initiatives and measure impact Tk Buchanan, M.A. Senior Research Associate Center for Community Building and Neighborhood Action University of Memphis

2. Neighborhood-by-Neighbor: A City-Wide Problem Property Audit http://memphisneighborhoodsurvey.org

3. Neighborhood-by-Neighbor • First ever city-wide property audit • 200,968 parcels, 297,121 housing units • Originally conceived as a partnership between HCD, Code Enforcement & Citizen Volunteers • $169,000 + University Match • 40 Samsung Q1 Ultralite Hand Held Computers • Project Director, Community Organizer, Database Manager/GIS Analyst, 2 graduate interns

4. Our Task… • Survey the condition of every residential property in Memphis. • Uses what we know about collaboration and block sweeping as effective code enforcement (i.e. Baltimore, Chattanooga, Philadelphia, Long Beach, Plano, Richmond, Albany, NY’s “Block by Block” program, Chicago’s “Troubled Buildings Initiative”, etc.) • Introduces cutting edge technology and analysis to neighborhood leadership and volunteers. • Asking the question ‘what would it take to restore this property back to its original condition’? • Audits Include: • Problem Properties • Vacancy • Crimeogenic Factors • Foreclosure • Housing Choice Vouchers- HUD, THDA and city site-based and scattered sites. • Parks • City Service Needs • Streets (potholes) • Signs (missing or broken)

5. Database Management • CBANA will host survey until neighborhood indicators project outgrows server space • http://memphisneighborhoodsurvey.org • http://dataportal.memphisneighborhoodsurvey.org • Database duplicated on the city’s Oracle server • clones for each division • Ultimately folded into Community and Neighborhood Indicators, to be hosted by University of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department • 3 domains: housing and neighborhoods, crime and community, and children and families.

6. Community Deliverables ( Putnam) • Community Bonding • CBANA trains existing CBOs on technology. • Community Building • CBANA identifies areas without organization and attempts to cultivate leadership. • Community Bridging • CBANA returns to each neighborhood to present findings and customized strategies for compliance • CBANA provides continuum of technical support • best practice research, sample form letters, etc. • Maps and database for each neighborhood in electronic format, easy to paste into applications and other documents.

7. Data Users • Community Based Organizations • CDCs • Neighborhood Associations • Churches, civic clubs • Other non-profits • City of Memphis • Housing and Community Development • Memphis Police Department • Memphis Light Gas & Water (utilities) • Department of Planning & Development • Shelby County • Commercial Code Enforcement & New Construction • Office of Planning and Development • University Wonks • CBANA • Department of City & Regional Planning • School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy

8. Data Uses • Establishment of an official Blight Level • Evaluation of Housing Subsidies (DPA, Sect. 8, LIHTC) • Foreclosure strategy • HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Plan • Code Enforcement Compliance • Grant writing

9. Specific Community Uses • General and specific code enforcement strategies • Identify demolition candidates • Clean-up campaigns • Civil litigation • Identify zoning violations and variations • Determine “abandonment” • Develop acquisition strategy

10. Thank you! CBANA appreciates your interest and welcomes your inquires… Tk Buchanan, M.A. Senior Research Associate Center for Community Building and Neighborhood Action University of Memphis 600 Jefferson Av, Suite 453 Memphis, TN 38105 (901) 678-1188 office (901) 678-1483 fax tbuchann@memphis.edu