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Washington Neighborhood Envisioning the Future Report.. THE CITY OF Dubuque DUB E t Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Washington Neighborhood Vision Project DATE: November 26, 2007 Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris advises that Phase I of the Washington Neighborhood Visioning Process is complete. Washington Neighborhood President Teresa Caldwell and MSA Consulting Representative David Boyd will present the final report at the City Council meeting. As part of the presentation, it is the intent to present Mayor Roy Buol with an engraved plaque of the vision statement. Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director THE CITY OF DUB E Masterpiece on the Mississippi 26 November 07 MEMORANDUM To: Michael~V n Milligen, City Manager From: David arris, Housing and Community Development Department Re: Washington Visioning Process "Washington Neighborhood Revitalize: Envisioning the future for Dubuque's Washington Neighbofiood," is the final report of the visioning process we began last summer. It represents the collective efforts of more than 40 persons interested in the future of the Washington Neighbofiood, including residents, business owners, landlords, school administrators and City staff. We have envisioned this as a two-step process: one was to agree on a consensus-built vision, gleaned from discussions with interested residents and community leaders. The second step is to translate the vision into a comprehensive neighborhood plan, detailing specific steps for guiding the future of this important downtown residential neighborhood. The first step has been accomplished. The vision statement has been forged from a series of community meetings at which all points of view were discussed and respected. The report will be presented to the City Council by Theresa Caldwell, President of the Washington Neighbofiood Association; and David Boyd, principal planner from MSA Professionals, the firm selected for facilitating this effort. A plaque engraved with the statement has been prepared for presentation to the Mayor. We hope tha# many of the members of the visioning group that met over the past several months will also be in attendance at the City Council meeting. On behalf of the City staff who participated in this process, many thanks to the Manager and Council for their support of this citizen-based effort toward building a stronger community in the Washington Neighborhood. cc: Chief Wadding Capt Russ Stecklein, Police Dept Mary Rose Corrigan,. Health Dept David Johnson, Planning Dept Kelly Larson, Human Rights Dept Gil Spence, Leisure Services Dept Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighbofiood Specialist Section 3: Assets and Liabilities Like any other place, the Washington Neighborhood has unique assets to be preserved or enhanced over time, as well as liabilities to be minimized or improved. While not an exhaustive list of assets and liabilities, Table 1 highlights and categorizes the assets and liabilities discussed throughout the evening, based on participants' presentations of significant photographs taken in the neighborhood. Table 1: Assets and Liabilities discussed at Meeting 2 Theme Assets Liabilities ~ Eagle Country Market ~ Bars as gathering places fox negative • Pizza Hut as family restaurant- asset, but need more activities options • Vacant Storefronts Businesses • Local gas station as good step toward local retail • Small, locally owned retail business serving neighborhood • Minori -owned businesses • Playground (Orange Park) as place for youth and Education/ families Recreation • Audubon School, Prescott School None Listed • Ice cream truck- nostalgia, community gathering, kid-friendl • Home ownership • High % of rental housing, difficulty Housing • Diversity of households increasing homeownership • Dubuque Housing Authority- presence in nei hborhood im ortant • Traffic circles effectively slow traffic on Washington • Unsatisfactory plantings in traffic St. circles- desire more color/flowers • Mature Trees ~ Lack of curb cuts on sidewalks to Infrastructure • Neighborhood is connector/passthrough for meet needs for accessibility visitors between other Dubuque attractions- • Perception of insufficient parking "gateway" fox multiuse buildings • Streets functioning as "highways"- hi h volumes of traffic • Well-kept Commercial properties • Absentee landlords/ poorly • Hope/Potential for properties with historical and maintained rental properties architectural integrity • Trash/weeds • Rehabilitated Storefronts- positive signs of change • Poorly maintained residential Property Maintenance/ • Historic Potential- "great bones" properties Architecture • Overall, little graffiti and vandalism due to active • Graffiti/broken windows- role by property owners and citizens. vandalism and property damage • Public private partnerships (front porch rehab, conversion of run down rentals to owner-occupied housing, etc.) • Well maintained/landsca ed residential xo ernes • Dept. of Corrections- provides opportunity for people to transition Safety & • Food Pantry Community • Community buildings and the services they None Listed Services represent • Bus System • Police presence (need more for increased enforcement and safe 4 Section 4: Building a Vision for the Washington Neighborhood On September 25`'', 2007, participants convened following a neighborhood walkabout to build a consensus-based vision for the future of the Washington neighborhood. The walkabout and ensuing group discussions complemented and reinforced the assets and liabilities described by photographs taken by individual participants in late August. At the end of the meeting, groups presented over thirty future oriented hopes for the neighborhood. While many ideas relate very closely to one another, they have been organized into seven themes to assist with the development of the neighborhood vision, goals, and strategies (see Table 2). Themes are very similar to those used to categorize assets and liabilities, but differ slightly since ideas were not limited to tangible items that can be depicted in photographs. Table 2: Future Visions presented at meeting 3 Theme Future Vision/Idea Uni ueness in economic develo ment Business and Economic Transportation system- access for neighborhood residents to employment opportunities in greater re ~ on Development Greater em to meat and educational o ortunities within the nei hborhood Promote the establishment & retention of businesses that provide goods & services to downtown residents restaurants, minori -owned businesses, retail Stron leadershi from nei hborhood association Nei hborl ne' hborhood- res ectful Nei hborhood will have sense of lace and communi ride Community Residents &non-residents will regard the neighborhood as a pleasant inviting and up-and coming nei hborhood Pride Parade of homes, communi walk Promote communi -not inner ci Create neighborhood identity around the history, character and traditional neighborhood that exists toda Pride in a earance of nei hborhood More children/famil activities Education/ Children outdoor activities- reen s ace Recreation Su ervised activities in arks fox children, etc. Multi enerauonal ro'ects Im roved balance between rental and owner-occu ied housin Housing Increase homeownershi -sin le famil Housin mix will than e as more du lexes and rental homes revert to SFOO houses Im roved street/ ublic landsca e Well-maintained infrastructure sidewalks, curbs, alle s, li htin ,trees, waste baskets Infrastructure Nei hborhood will be clean, leasant, edestrian-friendl ,well-lit Clean u ne~ hborhood to encoura e business investment Clean and resurface alle s Res onsible landlords Property Preservation of original neighborhood form/architecture, while embracing new technologies (in desi ,etc Maintenance Rental xo ex im rovements Pro e owners es .landlords will feel more res onsible for their ro erties. Reco ~tion and incentives fox cleanu & renovation Crime and code violation rates are in line with or better than those of the ci as a whole Safety Increase safe Peo le will feel safe The culmination of this four meeting process- describing and gaining a shared understanding about neighborhood assets, liabilities, and hopes for the future- is a vision statement for the Washington Neighborhood. The Washington Neighborhood Vision Statement was drafted, carefully reviewed, and revised based on consensus decisions made by participants. A vision statement identifies where a place or organization (the Washington Neighborhood) intends to be in the future to meet the needs of its stakeholders: citizens. The vision statement incorporates a shared understanding of where the Washington Neighborhood is headed, and uses this understanding to move towards a greater purpose together. The statement is written in the present tense and describes an ideal future condition. Washington Neighborhood Vision Statement The Washington Neighborhood is a vibrant and integral component of Dubuque. Residents include a broad spectrum of ages, income levels and ethnicities, each contributing to a sense of community pride. The Washington Neighborhood maintains a diversity of options for housing and home ownership, entrepreneurship and employment within its historic urban fabric. Property owners and residents work to improve and maintain an inviting physical infrastructure that encourages social interaction, neighborhood pride, public and private investment, and civic responsibility. Residents have access to a full range of services within the neighborhood to meet their needs. The neighborhood has access to safe and inviting public spaces, where interaction among community members of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities is common. The Washington Neighborhood is well connected to the Dubuque Region. Neighborhood residents have transportation options linking them with employers, educational opportunities, and social and community activities. Residents and visitors feel safe and welcome in the neighborhood. The Washington Neighborhood, as a unique and diverse community, enhances the quality of life in the City of Dubuque. 10 Section 5: Moving Forward Although the most important outcome of this process is a broad neighborhood vision reached by consensus, participants mentioned many ideas for goals, strategies, and actions to move toward a better future for the Washington Neighborhood at each and every meeting. Below is a working list of general goals to be considered, revised, and prioritized during a more formal neighborhood planning process. Ideally, each general goal will lead to a short list of strategies and specific actions (policies, programs, and projects) for which resources, timelines, and responsible parties can be defined. Actions can be conceived, implemented, and monitored over time to ensure that the Washington Neighborhood is working toward the established vision. Goal1- Economic Development.• The Washington Neighborhood will support and maintain a variety of businesses, including major employers and entrepreneurial efforts, to help meet the employment and service needs of area residents. Goa12- Community Pride: Civic involvement and community building opportunities for all age groups will increase the community's sense of pride in the neighborhood. Goal3- Education/Recreation: The Washington neighborhood will have ample opportunities for education and positive recreational activities for all ages, year-round Goal4- Housing.• While providing ample housing options for all neighborhood residents, the rate of home ownership the Washington neighborhood will increase to mirror that of the greater downtown and near west side. Goal s- Infrastructure: Public infrastructure in the neighborhood will adequately meet neighborhood needs and contribute to a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing physical environment for residents Goal 6- Property Maintenance: Property maintenance and historically sensitive improvements to residential and commercial properties will maximize property values and reinforce a sense of pride in the neighborhood for residents, business owners. Goal 7- Safety.• The Washington Neighborhood will be a safe and inviting place for people of all ages, and will be perceived as such by residents and visitors. 11 Appendix 1: Washington Revitalize Participants Name filiation Katie Bahl Main Street Limited Laurie Bartolotta Washington Neighborhood Association Cori Burbach Avery Buller Washington Neighborhood Association Theresa Caldwell President, Washington Neighborhood Association Rick Chapman Eagle Country Market Keith Clark Washington Neighborhood Assoc Mary Rose Corrigan Director, Health Department Sarah Davidson President, Step by Step; Transit Board Rick Engelken City of Dubuque, City Assessor Andy Ferguson Principal, Audubon School Christy Ficke Director, Crescent Community Health Center Gayton Glover Pastor, Dubuque Pentecostal Church John Gronen Owner, Gronen Restoration/Gronen Properties David Harris Director, Housing & Community Development Department Mark Henning Owner, Down to Earth Consulting Doris Hingtgen Gateways to Home; realtor, Duggan Realty Dave Johnson City of Dubuque Tom Kane Owner, Kane Appraisals Randy Klauer Owner, Iilauer Construction; Zoning Board Wayne Klosterman Owner, River Valley Nursery & Landscaping Bob Krayer Washington Neighborhood Assoc John/iVlary Kretz Owner, Perfection Oil Kelly Larson Director, Human Rights Dept. Dan Lobianco Director, Main Street Limited Al Lundh St. Mary's Church Council; retired architect Jenny Manders Project Concern Chris McCarron Principal, Prescott School Ann Michalski City of Dubuque Council Member Michelle Mihalakis Owner, Manassah House Charlotte I~filler Department of Workforce Development Fred Miller Resident, Washington Neighborhood Ron ~Ioxon Pastor, Lighthouse Baptist Church Jerelyn O'Connor Neighborhood Development Specialist Jim Ott Human Rights Activist, Speaker & Trainer Joleen Patterson City of Dubuque Housing Department David Shaw Eagle Country Market Gil Spence Director, Leisure Services Department Victor St. George Pastor, St. Matthew Lutheran Church Capt. Russ Stecklein Police Department Mike VanMilligen City Manager Nancy Van~Iilligen CEO, Comm. Foundation of Greater Dubuque Chief Kim Wadding Police Department Beverly Berna Iowa State Extension- Facilitator David Boyd MSA Professional Services- Facilitator Darrell Hansen Iowa State Extension- Facilitator Heather Stouder IvISA Professional Services- Facilitator 12 Appendix 2: Meeting 1 Materials Presented by City Staff 13 TrtB error or • i DUB E Mas~ervia~r on ti-e 1~t:'asissipvi Washington: Revitalize! The Kids-Off meeting for the Visioning initiative has been scheduled for: Date: Tuesday, 21 August Time: 5:30 pm Place: Neighborhood Resource Center - Prescott School As~enda 5:30 Sign in Participants directed to ChronoWall by consultants 5:45 Dinner buffet 6:00 Presentations: 1. Introductions/Overview: David Harris/Jerelyn O'Connor 2. Washington Neighborhood maps/planning: Laura Carstens - Boundaries - ZoningRand uses - Schooizones - KeyLine routes - Adjacent sites ident~ed for development initiatives: • Padc • Warehouse district • Bee Branch realignment - Downtown Comprehensive Plan 3. Police territorial accountability areas: Chief Wadding 4. Washington Neighborhood: Revitalize! initiative: David/Jerelyn - Consultant study conclusions - Strategy - Demographics - Assets inventory - Successes to-date Programs: - Housing: Joleen Patterson /Leo Hickey - DBB~T - Crescent Community Health Center: Mary Rose Corrigan ~ ~ 5. visioning Process Overview:David Boyd/Beverly Bema/Darrell Hanson - Where do we go from here? 8:00 Adjourn Washington: Revitalize! Participants At~fllatlon AI Lundh St Mary's Church Council; retired architect Nancy Van Milligan CEO, Dubuque Community Foundation Tom Kane Owner, Kane Appraisal Sarah Davidson President, Step by Step; Transit Board Rick Engeiken City Assessor Wayne Klosterman Owner, River Valley Nursery; Environmental Stewardship Commission Mark Henning Owner, Down to Earth Consulting Pastor Ron Moxon Lighthouse Baptist Church Theresa Caldwell President, Washington Neighborhood Assn; Community Development Commission David Kapler Attorney, DB8~T; Housing Commission Jim Ott Human rights activist, speaker and trainer Pastor Gayton Glover Dubuque Pentecostal Church Charbtte Miller Workforce Development Center Michelle Mihalakis Owner, Manasseh House Doris Hingtgen Gateways to Home; realtor, Duggan Realty John Kretz Owner, Perfection Oil Jenny Manders Project Concern Chris McCarron Principal, Prescott School Andy Ferguson Principal, Audubon School Christy Ficke Director, Crescent Community Health Center Pastor Victor St George St Matthew Lutheran Church Dan LoBianco (or Katie Bahi) Director, Main Street Ltd Randy Klauer Owner, Klauer Construction; Zoning Board John Gronen Owner, Gronen Restoration/Gronen Properties Rick Chapman Eagle Country Market Fred Miller Washington Neighborhood Representative City staff: Laura Carstens Director, Planning Dept Jerelyn O'Connor Neighborhood Development Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan Director, Health Dept Kelly Larson Director, Human Rights Dept David Harris Dir, Housing 8~ Community Development Dept Chief Kim Wadding Police Department Capt Russ Stecklein Police Department Gil Spence Director, Leisure Services Dept Consultants: David Boyd Senior Planner, MSA Professionals, Madison Beverly Bema Education Director/Families Specialist, Dubuque County Extension Office Darrell Hanson Education Director, Manchester Extension Off. Washington: Revitalize! 2004-2005 consultant study findings: 1. More residential property improvements and homeownership promotion efforts are needed in the downtown neighborhoods 2. Preservation of existing, older housing is an asset to the community 3. Citizens support 'affordable' housing for low- and moderate-income households -but do not support concentration of this housing 4. There is a concern that conditions are deteriorating in the Washington Neighborhood -reflected in its appearance, declining property values and housing vacancies 5. There is a potential downtown housing market for `young professionals' interested in "walking neighborhoods," with access to employment and cultural-entertainment attractions 6. The Washington Neighborhood is unique due its "pedestrian-friendly° feel, characterized by intact blocks of historical homes, small lots, front stoops close to the street and rear alleys/garages providing some needed off-street parking ', Washington: Revitalize! Elements of a neighborhood strategy: what is Washington: Rev/tallze? 1. Encourage homeownership 2. Encourage a mix of household incomes 3. Target use of pubil: subsidies to promote these objectives -create special lending programs to make rehabs feasible 4. Identify more public resources to fund these programs 5. Encourage formation of a 'pooled` fund from area mortgage lenders 6. Increase public investment in infrastructure as needed: streets, sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, etc 7. Assist in formation of a neighbort~ood association, promoting citizen partiGpation in supporting revitalization strategy objectives 8. Target blighted buildings for improvements -the Casket Factory. Go after the worst offenders first; other owners will folbw with private Investment S. Promote new Prescott as 'community-centered` school as asset to neighborhood and available for community after-sdwol uses 10. Develop additional park and green spaces 11. Increase housing and zoning enforcement as needed fio combat blight 12. Build capacity of non-profits to expand supply of rehabilitated affordable housing and deliver needed services. Examples: HEART program, Health Center, Maria House, Manasseh House, Extension training 13. Work with Community-Oriented Policing (COP) Program to build citizen partnerships and combat neighbofiood crime 14. "Re-market" the neighborhood as a good place to pun~ase homes, make Investments and raise a family; develop a marketing plan 15. Create a "neighbofiood vision' to direct investment and devebpment for the long term benefit of the neighborhood 16. Create a neighborhood plan to implement the visbn ^~ .ti Washington: Revitalize! Neighborhood Demographics: 55 square block area 450 single family and duplex residences Age of housing: 86% built before 1939 Residences valued at 44% of city-wide average for single-family homes Population: 1903 persons Children < 5 years: 134. 7.1 % of neighborF~od pop; Dubuque average 6.2% Elderly > 65 years: 229. 12% of population; Dubuque average 16.5% Number persons per household: 2.0, Dubuque average 2.37 98% white; 2% non-white Income: 68% population reports income <80% of area median income 70% of all housing units are renter-occupied 47% of ail units are occupied by families (related persons) Renters comprise 95% of ali households earning <$10 000 13% housing vacancy rate Single, female-headed households twice the city-wide rate ~ ~ ~ ~1 Washington: Revitalize! Washington Neighborhood Assef Inventory: Churches: St John's Lutheran St Matthew Lutheran St Paul Lutheran Lighthouse Baptist St Mary's Immanuel Congregational Prescott School and Neighborhood Resource Center Audubon School Maria House Food Pantry Lantern Center Washington Tooi Library Neighborhood retail center at the Five Points, including Eagle Country Market Banks and credit unions Four Mounds/Four Oaks 'HEART' Program Manasseh House Davis Place Crescent Community Health Center Project Concern Washington Court Apartments Washington Neighborhood Association Orange Park Multicultural Family Center City Programs Housing: Low interest loans and grants for home purchase and rehab Low interest loans and grants for rental rehab Lead paint grants Urban Revitalization Program (tax abatement) DBB~T's $1 million low interest loan.fund for home purchase -- ti ~ ~ Washington: Revitalize! Successes to Date: Washington Neighborhood Association formed and incorporated; received IRS tax-exempt status. Meets monthly, with monthly meetings of sub-committees and boanl of directors. First neighbofiood clean-up day held in Fatl 2005; 3 more held subsequently Iowa Finance Authority Housing Trust Fund grant received; $163 000 being used for assistance to lowest-income homeowners Enterprise Zone extended to 22"d Street, to include entire neighbofiood HOME Program target lending area extended from Five Points to include entire neighbofiood Fannie Mae Iowa Partnership Office donated $11 000 for assistance to neighbofiood, including County Extension Office leadership development training workshops for Association board members. Urban Revitalization District expanded to include entire neighbofiood, to promote residential and commercial investment in existing buildings City Council $250 000 grant to the Dubuque School District for devebpment of "Neighbofiood Resource Center" as part of new $11 million Prescott School Manasseh House developer, Michelle Mihalakis, received $680 000 HOME Program grant to build 19-room SRO for single women in the 5 Points area; opened in July. City received National Community Development Association award, for HEART Program. HEART also received Iowa Program of the Year award from the Association of Iowa City aril County Administrators. First 3 HEART homes completed and sold to low-income, first-time buyer families Gateways to Home received $30 000 grant from Dubuque Housing Trust Fund to purchase and renovate former Catholic Worker House in the 5 Points. Dubuque Bank 8~ Trust committed $1 million low-interest mortgage fund for homebuyers in the Washington Neighborhood e .,+ i- DB&T's community development corporation purchased 4 abandoned houses. First three have been rehabilitated and sold to owner families. Gronen Partnership completed conversion of fomtier Dubuque Casket Company building into affordable housing; a $5.3 million investment in the neighborhood Crescent Community Health Center completed renovations of first floor space at Washington Court and opened in November. City Council approved over $750 000 in grants to assist project. Project Concern relocated there in June. MuitiCul#ural Family Center received $88 000 in grants from City to establish new center and fund first 2 years of operations Council committed $320 000 for development of new Washington Neighborhood park; Orange Park completed in November. Currently, 18 homeowner loans have been closed forpurchase and/or rehab of owner-occupied properties, totaling more than $1 million in private and public reinvestment Council approved $100 000 for purchase and demolition of selected derelict properties to reduce density and improve livability of neighbofiood Abandoned White Street apartment building purchased by City from School District; will be sold to developer and converted to townhouses; to promote homeownership for younger people working downtown. Washington Neighborhood Association named as recipient of annual CommUNITY Award for Diversity Initiatives at Dr Martin Luther King breakfast in January 2007. •' ii Washington Neighborhood Revitalization ~~ ~~ E 13TH it E -E 11TH al For additional inliamation oantad: Kris Neyen or Joleen Patterson at 863-589--4239 Housing and Community Development Department 1605 Central Avenue Dubuque,lA 52001 17~& CITY OF Meatcryiea as the Misaisstypi ~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ E 1tTH aT _ E 1 iTH iT ~~ :~ E 1~7i'H aT~ F b~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~; ;~ HOMEOWNER PURCHASE i Amount Ir~tsir+~st X Term a5 000.00 096 5 ar io ivable HOMEOWNER REHABILITATION S Amount Inbarest % Tenn $ 5000.00 096 5 ar 1b ivable ~ 10000.00 096 Deferred Pa ~ Due on Sale $10000.00 096 20 ar berm• S42Imo