Chatham Square: Case Study in Community

Development Through Community Organizing Presentation Transcript

Chatham Square A Case Study in Healthy Neighborhood Approaches to Community
Development
Chatham Square (CS) Community Foundation Goals: Increase neighborhood
stabilization and revitalization Develop replicable strategies for neighborhood
stabilization and revitalization
CS Theoretical Base Dr. Felton Earls Study on urban neighborhoods and crime*
Local governments should support the development of cooperative efforts in lowincome neighborhoods by encouraging neighbors to meet and work together Most
important influence on a neighborhood's crime rate is neighbors' willingness to act
for one another's benefit, and particularly for the benefit of neighborhood children
Cities that sow community gardens may reap a harvest of not only kale and
tomatoes, but safer neighborhoods and healthier children *Neighborhoods and
violent crime: A multilevel study of collective efficacy Crime as Science (A
Neighbor at a Time) Dan Hurley NYT January 8, 2004
CS Theoretical Base Healthy Neighborhood Framework:* Image: Residents are
confident about the future of the neighborhood, and outsiders think its a good
place to live and work even if they choose not to live there Physical Conditions:
Properties recipients of reinvestment; in- between properties (neither obviously
public nor private) are in a high state of repair. i.e. curb strips, planter boxes
Neighborhood Management: Neighbors manage change and threats; problems that
arise are solved; public institutions are held accountable and are accountable;
detrimental behaviors are considered outside the norm are curtailed Market:
Ideally demand exceed supply; since not happening inmovers need to be at least
as good or better for the neighborhood as outmovers while quality housing
opportunities for people of modest means are maintained *Fall Creek Consulting
Health Neighborhood Group
CS Theoretical Base Healthy Neighborhood Key Components:* Real estate marketbarometer of neighborhood healthy Make neighborhoods places where it makes
economic sense for people to invest time, money and energy Help residents
participate in the real estate market instead of protecting them from it Affordable
housing is a tool for revitalization Progress measured by tracking quality of life
indicators and neighborhood confidence not units produced or people served
outcomes not outputs Residents defining outcomes while practitioners offer
insight, strategies and tools to get there work about achieving outcomes not
delivering programs *Fall Creek Consulting Healthy Neighborhood Group
CS Theoretical Base Relational Culture Organizing Key elements:* Leaders and
participants get to know each other beyond tasks and agendas People engaged
around their own interests New activities based on peoples real energy People
who know and trust each other take action in a variety of ways Community life is

made stronger and more dynamic Partner: Connecticut Sponsoring Committee

(Elm City Congregations Organized) Local organization practicing relational
culture organizing * Relational Culture Organizing: Planting Seeds, Rev. Louise
Green
CS Neighborhood Fair Haven, New Haven
CS Neighborhood Fair Haven, New Haven Chatham Square Downtown
CS Market\\ Community Descriptors* 3,500 people 1,100 households 42% Hispanic
Median Income $33k Solid housing stock, mostly 2 and 3 family structures *2000
census data
CS Market\\ Community Descriptors Scenes from 2007 Atwater St. Block Party
CS Community Analysis: needs work Drug sales out of houses and at the park Houses
in need of repair Homeownership: lower than city average south and west of park
Public infrastructure (sidewalks, park, public lighting) Street litter, especially on
the Clinton Avenue side of the park Traffic flow and noise
CS Community Analysis
CS Community Analysis: merits recognition Committed residents Diverse community
(cultural, economic, ethnic, racial) Five parks and three gardens Historic buildings
~ residential and commercial Great 2 and 3 family housing stock Home-Buyer
Incentive programs: Yale, Mary Wade Home, Community Foundation Proximity
to bus routes, highway, waterfront, parks Three local grocery stores Two
commercial corridors Rehab of Quinnipiac Terrace Housing Projects New owneroccupied housing ~ ECCO housing Elderly services ~ Mary Wade Home
CS 2007 Neighborhood Association Plan* *Community approved plan :January,2007
CS Selected Results: Image Image: Residents are confident about the future of the
neighborhood, and outsiders think its a good place to live and work, even if they
choose not to live there Neighborhood branded 15 positive hits Channel 3
Channel 8 New Haven Register ~ Sunday September 16 New Haven Independent
Festival in partnership with the City of New Haven Childrens photo exhibit (6-11
years)
CS Selected Results: Image
CS Selected Results: Physical Condition Physical Conditions: Properties recipient of
reinvestment 38 homes repaired through incentive program 16 during pilot phase
(last quarter 2006) 22 in 2007 Partnership with homeowners and HRI 6 homes
repaired w/o program assistance Investing made sense to homeowner 4 lower
income homeowners offered assistance Partnership with homeowner and City of
New Haven
CS Selected Results: Physical Condition
CS Selected Results of Work: Management Neighborhood Management: Neighbors
manage change and threats; problems that arise are solved quickly; public
institutions are held accountable and are accountable; behaviors outside the
norm that are a detriment to reinforcing confidence in the neighborhood are
curtailed. Community identified: traffic calming Community raised funds locally

Foundation matched and donated City matched combined total Traffic calming
study ~national expert ~ Dan Burden of Glatting, Jackson, Kercher Anglin, Inc
CS Selected Results of Work: Management Pictures: New Haven Independent
CS Selected Results: Market Market: Ideally demand exceed supply; since not
happening inmovers need to be at least as good or better for the neighborhood as
outmovers while quality housing opportunities for people of modest means are
maintained 3 home purchases totaling $700,000+ in sales directly connected to
the association 14 realtors attended neighborhood tours
CS Selected Results: Market The information I learned on the tour of Chatham
Square contributed directly to the sale of a house on Atwater Street Bruce
Peterson, Realtor, H. Pierce Realtors 149 Clinton Ave. picture Source MLS
listings Darden said her plans are to stay in the neighborhood, get her kids
enrolled in the local schools, do some home fix up. Her career plans now call for
her to stay at Mary Wade, of course; she is also going to get her registered nurses
degree, too. Darden quote and picture source: New Haven Independent
CS Resident Survey Baseline survey: October 2006 Follow up survey: September
2007 40 residents participants 1/3 survey participants - residents who attend
meetings 2/3 self-selected - festival attendees and door knocking
How would you rate the quality of life in your neighborhood? 25 20 15 2006 2007 10
5 0 Great Good So-So Bad Terrible
How would you rate the image (reputation) of the neighborhood? 20 18 16 14 12 10
2006 8 2007 6 4 2 0 Great So-So Terrible
How would you rate the physical condition of the neighborhood? 25 20 15 2006 2007
10 5 0 Great Good So-So Bad Terrible
How often do you go to the Chatham Square park? 16 14 12 10 8 2006 6 2007 4 2 0
Every day At least Once a I rarely go once a week month or to the park more
Chatham Square ~ cost Includes the salary for part-time community organizer
$80,000/year
Chatham Square: Conclusions Approach can be replicated Working with West River
Neighborhood Milwaukee Foundation ~ five neighborhoods Good investment
$80k donation generated $828,000 private and public donations and investment
includes home purchases
Chatham Square: Lessons Affirmed Identify leaders People who get others to follow
Build on success Look to the edges, not the extremes Look at it from the other
persons perspective Connection their dream to your reality Collect the stories Be
the bearer of the good news for change New possibilities for work Always linked
to new people or new energy Seek funders interested in outcome not output
Success measures by outcome not output
Chatham Square: Conclusions
Chatham Square A Case Study in Healthy Neighborhood Approaches to Community
Development