One of the little discussed but much agreed upon issues put forth at the neighborhood forum last week was the idea that we need to identify where we’re going in order to get there.
My father was a carpenter by trade with little more than an eighth grade education. Yet he possessed an uncanny ability to look out over a vacant lot and see the finished home sitting there, complete with paint and landscaping, before driving the first nail. He had the vision in his head and then set forth to make it a reality.
Conversely we in New Albany do not have such a vision, at least not in any broad sense, to work toward. There are multitudes of individual concepts both public and private that float to the top on occasion but rarely do they get much farther than the door jamb of the room in which they are voiced.
So even though I realize that from many fronts I’m going to get the same old tired retorts of, “The city is broke!”, “We’re in a recession!”, “We can’t!” or “The sky is falling!”, I’m going to throw the question out once again in hopes of beginning an expansive, broad based, and far reaching conversation.
One that will hopefully look far beyond two-way streets, potholes, signage, and low manpower issues.
One that will explore such questions as what assets or attributes do we have (or need to develop) to entice individuals & businesses to call New Albany home?
What role do we play or want to play in the Metro area?
What’s missing from our downtown and core neighborhoods that would make living here more attractive and enjoyable?
I, for one, choose to look backwards in a sense to find those solutions. I, like many of you, grew up with the “Ward & Beaver ©” syndrome deeply embedded into my psyche. Likewise I, like most of you, arrived at the horrific conclusion that for the most part, it was bunk!
However, it was not all bad as I remember. In Scottsburg where I grew up the local 5¢ and 10¢ was also the fabric shop and the bookstore where we got our textbooks & supplies for the new school year. Oh! And it had the best 1¢ candy selection in two counties!
There was the grocery store complete with a fresh meat butcher shop, the drug store with a soda fountain, the hardware store so well stocked that if they didn’t have it you couldn’t possibly ever need it, and all this rounded out by the bank that not only knew your name when you walked in but was willing to talk to you!
All of this was in the downtown core by the way.
During that same time prior to Interstate highways coming thru, we used to come to and thru New Albany to shop and get to Louisville and points south. (See, the more some things change, the more they remain the same!)
Doing so for me was a treat because Woolworth’s had a bigger soda fountain than did Hancock's and Jerry’s had shrimp & oysters which were unheard of in Scottsburg. The store fronts had more elaborate signage and bigger plate glass windows as well!
Nostalgia? Of course, but the point being there was an atmosphere that embodied both small town comfort and safety, combined somewhat with big city bustle and availability. Those memories in large part are why I chose to live here for many years and to ultimately buy a home here.
Can we go back to that point in time? Of course not but I believe we can look at what worked about that era and rework some it to fit into the 21st century.
I think a soda fountain for the younger set could exist alongside a WIFI ready coffee shop for their elders. I can see a seamstress shop next to an art gallery. I have no problem envisioning apartment and lofts over ground floor retail establishments that cater to young single adults in conjunction with core neighborhood single family housing for all ages and income levels.
And speaking of neighborhoods, what’s to stop a small corner grocery stocked with staples along with community gardens for fresh veggies and small parks where neighbors can gather to visit while they watch their kids play?
The above may sound way too hokey for many but I’m convinced that for just as many it may be just what the doctor ordered. Yet another primary reason for me choosing the core of New Albany was that every need (read need as opposed to want) could be met within walking distance if all else went to hell in a hand basket. In our current economic environment that is a biggy.
So now that I’ve bared my soul along these lines, it’s your turn. What kind of atmosphere do you ultimately want you and your children to live in?
What kinds of retail, service business, and entertainment would entice you to invest in a community?
What do we have or can create that the rest of the Metro Louisville area doesn’t have, or wants and needs more of? How do we fit in that big picture?
In my view these are the questions that must be answered in order to form a vision. Once we can see the end result in our collective minds eye, then we can begin the process of getting there. Back to my Dad again!
And in the end, the results will not be exactly what we envisioned but it doesn’t really matter. The three things that matter are that we ask the questions,
form the vision, and AGREE COLLECTIVELY to work towards those goals.
So have at it! Let your imaginations run! Let’s begin this conversation in earnest!
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37 comments:
For all of the talk of lifestyle amenities and new urbanist ideas, which I strongly support, if you want to attract families with children to buy homes in core neighborhoods, you need the perception of safety and good schools.
You can't do it all with urban pioneers. Being a new parent has made me appreciate this more, and even Richard Florida discusses this at length in his newest book.
So, my thought is that any community vision or metrics that involve attracting homeowners should find a way to include the perception of safety and perceived quality of schools.
I emphasize "perception" because I continually run into people, many of them friends and family, who perceive core New Albany as dangerous with nothing but failing schools. We know this isn't correct, but the perception keeps a lot of people away.
Excellent point, B.W. I wonder, what other communities or neighborhoods are used in those comparisons? Dangerous and failing compared to what?
Are those folks choosing sub or exurbs or other urban neighborhoods?
Suburb/exurb, for the most part. Although, I have heard my neighbors say that the Silver Grove area has a lot of appeal due to safety and schools (full disclosure, I'm VP of the Silver Grove Neighborhood Association).
As much as I love my neighborhood, it's no secret that we've thought about buying an historic home in East Spring in the past and are considering a vacant lot anywhere in the core to build leed-certified new construction.
The point being that schools/safety is still a concern for us. Extrapolate that concern to someone who isn't used to living in the city and you can see the problem.
I don't mean to dominate the discussion with this issue, but I think it is part of the puzzle.
No worries, B.W.. I was trying to discern whether it was a general anti-urban bias or something particular to New Albany. My strategy wheels are spinning.
I think it is both.
Yet, for all of that bias, most of my family now drive in from Floyd and Harrison County to use the downtown Y and love to eat at La Rosita's and Studios on a regular basis...so the amenities are doing something.
Step 1:
Vision Statement
Urban New Albany is made up of architecturally and economically diverse neighborhoods who take advantage of their historic, human-centric environments and close proximity to a major metropolitan area to inspire creative, collaborative relationships that celebrate their residents’ common future in the spirit of innovation that defined New Albany’s past.
I’m going to make a somewhat tangential point.
Right now the city council is trying to deal with the new 1-2-3 property tax caps (and the caps’ corresponding decline in tax revenue) by cutting spending. They also are dipping into the rainy day fund and hoping for federal economic stimulus money.
Eventually everyone in the city will realize that property tax revenue is insufficient to support even the most basic city services. There just is not enough to cut. The city can provide fire and police only, and there still won’t be enough money to go around.
Eventually, everyone will demand additional tax revenue. There are only two ways to increase tax revenue: (1) add new taxes, OR (2) increase the amount of property that is subject to the tax.
If everyone wants additional income taxes, user fees, etc., that’s fine. I prefer the city try to offset tax rate increases by exploring option two.
Beatification, two way streets, code enforcements, sidewalks, parks, and city services all increase the value of the existing property. You increase the value of a house by $10,000, then you increase the maximum tax produced by that house by $100 year. I prefer the city try to get more taxes out of me by helping me increase the value of my home instead of taxing my income.
Another way the city can increase property tax revenue is to attract more commercial property. Nonresidential, commercial property is taxed at 3%. Jeffersonville is trying to do this with their proposed $100M-$122M hotel/convention center. If only $50M of that property is paying into the general fund (the rest being allocated for TIF and/or held by a non-tax paying entity) then the 3% property tax spinoff is $1.5 million a year. Sure, not all of that $1.5M/year goes to the city, but Jeff’s portion of the extra $1.5M/yr. is a handsome payoff for whatever small investment in consultants and attorneys they made.
There are several developers working on some big New Albany projects that over the long run would generate a couple million in additional annual tax receipts. The administration is making an effort to make these developments a reality.
Some have claimed that the city “cannot afford” to assist these developments. Rainy day funds and federal economic stimulus money might get us through the short term, but they’re not long term options. The city cannot afford to not seek out additional 2% and 3% developments.
Dan,
Your recitation would be dead on if Indiana collected property tax in a sensible way. Currently, we do not.
Instead of setting a steady tax rate and then seeing how much revenue it generates in order to establish annual budgets, the state sets our budget first and then sets the tax rate to meet it. Increasing property values leads to lower tax rates, not increased revenue.
Governor Daniels has given his local government finance officers strict orders to not increase municipal budgets by more than two to three percent-- period, end of story, regardless of assessment.
If we increased our assessed value by 50% this year, we'd get a two or three percent budget increase. There would be no increase in revenue beyond that.
It's utter nonsense that discourages local governments from taking what you suggest seriously. The state sets us up to fail and then complains when we do, not taking any responsibility. That's why I'm constantly yammering about getting the state out of the process. Reform should start in Indianapolis.
The only way to combat that is with TIFs. TIFs freeze the tax rate within a designated area, allow us to keep any additional revenue generated by development there, and use it for local projects. That's why we have so many and why we should keep them as long as we can.
TIFs and Economic Improvement Districts (EIDs).
Bluegill, I’m not sure that we can fund a 2-3% annual increase with the 1-2-3 tax caps.
Also, increasing tax revenue by bring in new development takes time. Commercial projects take time to build and assessments/taxes are at least a year in arrears.
The current tax structure is unsustainable. By looking at new development now, we will be best positioned to increase local tax revenue (without increasing tax rates) when the current system is fixed.
True. And now, back to vision.
Vision needs to include a mechanism for attracting new development. Right now the city waits for development to come to it. I don’t think it should be a hotel/convention center, but I would like to see the city shooting for something.
I’ve seen the preliminary renderings for Scribner Phase II. They are impressive. If that plan is fully realized, it will do much to transform perception of downtown New Albany.
Vision needs to include a mechanism for attracting new development.
Actually, no, it doesn't. Those mechanisms are strategies for reaching the vision.
How is new development defined? What if a majority doesn't want new development? I'm not saying that's the case.
What I am suggesting is that without at least a semi-settled and agreed upon vision, we'll all be working in different directions based on assumptions that may not reflect the actual desires of the community.
You can't build collaboration that way.
1. Bluegill, let’s not debate semantics.
2. How many things can you name that NA has that other areas in the region do not have? It's those things upon which we can most easily build to offer a product that available elsewhere.
I agree that there is a perception of NA being unsafe. I lived for years in Old Louisville and was pleasantly surprised by what I found AFTER I moved here. NA is the only urban place in the region where I feel safe walking my dog at night. That message does not get out. Downtown condos in Louisville are nice, but you still have to fear attack walking to the store or to your car at 2AM. While perceptions may be different, downtown NA condo owners would not have the same safety risk.
Also, people like living along parks and along rivers. Once completed, the Greenway will stretch from Silver Creek to the West End. Except for some projects in the immediate downtown area, nothing is being done to connect homeowners who live within blocks of the Greenway to the new, valuable resource. Sidewalks and bike paths feeding people to the Greenway would be most welcome. The high concentration of homes within walking/biking distance of a river park is a good selling point that other cities in the region cannot beat.
Mike Ladd, the executive director of the New Albany Urban Enterprise Zone, tried to post this earlier and ran afoul of Blogger. I've been busy and apologize for taking so long to post it, below. The Highwayman's original comments are in italics.
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What kinds of retail, service business, and entertainment would entice you to invest in a community?
Pardon me for jumping in here with my business perspective; but if you’re serious about enticing businesses and services that the community will support you have to have a Marketing Study done. Yes, another study. But this is the one that should have been done long ago and then followed up on. The last market study was done in 1991; and, no, it was not followed up on. The 2000 plan was not a marketing plan but a revitalization plan. Two different animals. A marketing study will show us what commercial, retail businesses and services the community will support. Those are the only types of businesses that will survive – the ones the community will support. It’s time to face reality, take down the “wish list” signs, and remove the false statements from the public dialogue. Find out what the community will support and make sure that information in that study is distributed to the local businesses so they can find out if there are any hidden markets out there or if they are missing their target. Information is power.
2nd-ly – We need to support those businesses that we have. The information below came from
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FE651
“A number of studies have documented the net new job growth attributable to existing businesses. Whether these studies looked at state or national data, all concluded that job growth from existing businesses far exceeds job growth that was the result of industry attraction.
· In Job Creation in America (Birch, 1987), the author reported that up to 80 percent of net new job growth comes from existing businesses. Today, virtually every economic development organization uses that percentage when asked about the importance of existing businesses to his/her community.
· In Retention First, Ohio's Challenge (Kraybill,1995), the author reported average Ohio job growth of 70 percent from existing businesses, with rural areas experiencing as much as 86 percent of net job growth from existing businesses.
· A 1990 survey by Arthur D. Little and the American Economic Development Council documented job growth from existing businesses in four states (Phillips, 1996).
1. Illinois – from 31 to 58 percent.
2. Nebraska – from 38 – 59 percent.
3. Tennessee – from 47 to 72 percent.
4. Wisconsin – from 41 to 61 percent.
· In terms of job creation and tax contributions, the expansion of businesses and operations, not new operations, has the greater impact in most communities over time (Gordon, 2001).
· There are literally thousands of communities involved in industry attraction, yet fewer than 200 major plant relocations occur annually (Kotval, et al., 1996). Thus basing an economic development strategy solely on landing a "big fish" has only a small chance of success.
3d-ly – The local businesses need to respond when they are requested to supply information. I have tried for two months to get cost information from a local business for a project my board of directors will soon be asked to consider taking on. Two months, several face-to-face conversations and still no response – just “Sure, Mike, I’ll get that to you soon.” In order to move forward, I had to go somewhere else – out of town. The local businesses need to stop complaining about no pedestrian traffic down here when you can’t get what you want or get the promised follow-up. Why come back when you can’t get what you want?
4th-ly – The egos need to go. If you’re in a sinking lifeboat do you really want (need) someone with you who is the only one who can have all the good ideas? NO. Same with revitalizing New Albany. Everyone has a role to play and everyone can take a piece of the credit. Just like everyone can take a piece of the blame and responsibility when it fails.
5th-ly – The “Vision Thing” is vital. New Albany has a magnificent load of historic buildings. But we can’t demand all buildings be saved or constructed to look “historic”. I love old architecture as much as anyone, but we have to let in the future at some point. The two can exist side by side. Other towns do it, New Albany should be able to. There’s no secret to this business; find what worked somewhere else and use it. If that doesn’t work, try something else.
What do we have or can create that the rest of the Metro Louisville area doesn’t have, or wants and needs more of? How do we fit in that big picture?
You have to have something to sell – an image, a thought, an idea. The community should have a brand. And done in the proper way, not a preconceived idea pushed onto the community.
In my view these are the questions that must be answered in order to form a vision. Once we can see the end result in our collective minds eye, then we can begin the process of getting there. And in the end, the results will not be exactly what we envisioned but it doesn’t really matter. The three things that matter are that we ask the questions, form the vision, and AGREE COLLECTIVELY to work towards those goals.
Simple isn’t it?
It's not at all a semantic debate. It directly effects not only the processes by which we seek revitalization but helps us define what revitalization is. To dismiss that would be a critical mistake.
A vision statement is broad. It's about principles, values, and character- the spirit of a place.
Though they can be shorter or longer, my earlier comment is a good jumping off point for a vision statement.
Plans and strategies come later, after broader principles have been agreed upon.
How does the place you envision feel and function and what general characteristics make it that way?
Just a quick FYI to folks who might misinterpret Mike's comment:
But we can’t demand all buildings be saved or constructed to look “historic”.
The city does neither. In fact, our historic district guidelines for new construction specifically discourage constructing buildings that mimic historic styles - see YMCA building, for example, which is in the downtown district and was approved by the preservation commission.
Supposed hypothetically we all agree on a vision. Also, suppose hypothetically we agree on techniques, policies and projects for implementing the vision. Suppose our elected officials agree with us.
Is implementation free?
If not, how do you pay for it? If you implement a strategy and it breaks the bank, the city will be soured on progressive policies for a generation.
I agree vision is important. But it’s hard for me to separate the vision from the “pay for’s.” Louisville is seeking a $1.3M US Dept of Transportation grant to integrate bicyclists. Would a similar grant be available to NA? I don’t know. But if it were, I would focus more on getting the grant than trying to determine how it fit into the vision.
I’m certainly not trying to stop the vision brainstorming. I believe it’s a very useful exercise. However, I recognize that maybe I’m philosophically more opportunistic than a seeker of a vision. That's just me.
You haven't answered the question as to whether we want bicycle integration. Until you do that, it doesn't matter if money is available or not.
It has nothing to with optimism. It has to do with pragmatism.
Does anyone have violent crime stats for NA vs. urban Louisville neighborhoods?
If the numbers shows fewer murders, rapes and muggings per capita in NA than in older Louisville neighborhoods, I’d look at marketing NA as a safe place with affordable homes.
Sure, it’s safe in the Highlands, but it’s not affordable. Portland is affordable, but it’s not safe to walk at night. Maybe we need to invent some sort of index that combines both affordability and low violent crime rates to use as a marketing tool.
Though this is different from having a “vision,” it might help dispel some of the perception problems B.W. wrote about above.
I'll be a devil's advocate of sorts, and tie this in with other recent discussions.
How much of what must be done can take place without the participation of entities like the city council?
Let's face it. Right now there may not be a majority on the council capable or willing to understand what is being discussed here. As for the ones who don't or won't, they know that their electoral support comes from the troglodytes who tuned out of the discussion with the first mention of "property tax."
I'm not trying to divert attention from the importance of brainstorming vision. In my working life, I'm doing what I can to move forward with an investment in downtown that does not depend on Steve Price's support. If it did, he'd be mobilizing the cadres to protest it. He'll do so with much of what is being envisioned here.
How do we evade his and Coffey's leaden malice?
How much of what must be done can take place without the participation of entities like the city council?
Quite a bit of it. We need them for code enforcement and two-way streets. Otherwise, funding and participation will likely come from somewhere else to the extent that we need it.
How do we evade his and Coffey's leaden malice?
By realizing that this isn't about projects and buildings. It's about people and process. We're trying to build something to believe in. The easiest, most likely way to do that is to identify like-minded people right off the bat and build it with them so that we're creating a preestablished audience/patronage/customer base as part of the building process rather than spending millions to create something that someone may or may not want when we're finished.
I'm asking people to identify with and participate in revitalizing, not to buy what's been revitalized. There's a significant difference.
I'm asking people to identify with and participate in revitalizing, not to buy what's been revitalized. There's a significant difference.
So: Who is John Galt?
Exactly. The question is more interesting than the answer. And the legends themselves are perhaps the most important.
If that makes sense, please report for duty.
Progress and vision has to start, as mentioned, with a willingness of the powers that be to step up to plate, end the talking and take action.
When the community sees that its leaders are leading, perhaps more pride will be pumped into the community.
Our progression -or our declination- as a city depends on the actions taken NOW.
Before we can improve the infrastructure of the city, we have to improve the infrastructure of the powers that be.
NOw I am not saying that everyone in city hall is doing a bad job, some (J.G.) stand out more than others as far as being fair and responsive.
On the front of the future home of "toast" is a checklist of vital businesses needed to complete a thriving, competative downtown, good news is there is the checklist as a sort of roadmap to progress, bad news is there are only a few items checked off.
The return of the public to locally owned, locally operated businesses is vital to turning this ship around.
Bluegill, once a sufficient number of people agree on a particular vision, what is your next step in putting vision into action?
Speak in specifics, if possible.
Will you and Coffey sit down to discuss over beer at Studios? (Sorry, had to!)
If the “vision” is expressed in a manifesto of sorts, with bullets, I’d proposed the first two bullets be:
1. Code Enforcement
2. Pedestrian and cyclist friendly environment from West End to Silver Greek, from the river to _______ (draw a line. Ideally this would be whole city but I’d focus initially on core area).
If there’s a better way to phrase, let me know.
If the “vision” is not expressed by a series of bullets, let me know.
I believe selling an abstract, philosophical concept is difficult.
Let’s create a comprehensive list and be prepared to defend it.
Good question, Dan, and I'm not avoiding it. Slammed right now. I'll take it up this evening. Thanks.
How do we evade his and Coffey's leaden malice?
Vote them out of office. To whom should we write the checks?
Vote them out of office.
I'd like a semi-legal opinion about this. Take the 3rd district as an example. Assuming we can resist running multiple candidates like twice before, we'll need money to depose the incumbent.
Can I begin the fundraising process now, sans precise candidate? Must we have a PAC of some sort? Can I get things set up now?
http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/pdfs/2008_CFA_Manual_05_12_08_revision.pdf
I'm going to jump-in before I've read everyone's responses, so pre-apologies if I am repeating another's reply.
First and foremost, that was a beautiful post and vision. I've been harping on these things for a few years now. I've seen some gentrificaton happening in the last couple of years and because of seeing improvements, I certainly do not want to see our historical school closed and see the surrounding neighborhoods decline in value by 10% or more as a result.
I also think small, intimate communities help keep people (and children) toeing the line. People seem to be far more rude and step out-of-line when dealing with perfect strangers than when they're around people who know them (or their parents) by name. Also, in that same intimate group, you will find people more likely to pitch-in to help one another in a time of need.
Regarding aesthetics, code enforcement, general improvements and crime, I think the development of the neighborhood associations, as well as the crime watch groups are a great asset. We just have to keep them going - - which is not always easy. One thing from days gone by which is sadly gone was the "beat cop."
Walking communities are very attractive to me. I hate having to drive more than five miles to get something I need. What I hate even more is getting to that place and finding that, even though it's a huge place, they don't even carry whatever it is I need! But because they are so large, they've run the smaller guy (that was closer) out of business - and that smaller guy actually used to carry that need of mine. (Did that make sense?)
I would *love* to see a return of the old five and dimes, drugstores with soda fountains, and corner groceries (filled with local goods) - - and a shuttering of the mega-mondo-monopoliies that mass stock imported products. I'd also love to see the return of deliveries. Remember milkmen and laundry service? When I was growing up, my mother could call the corner grocer with her grocery list and Ernie would deliver her groceries. The drugstore would deliver your Rx, too. I know we still have two local drugstores that do that here - but for how long?
It is imperative for people in the community to patronize local merchants because that money comes back to us by improving our backyards. Money that goes to the mondo-mega-monopolies just supports someone else's back yard that could be far across the big pond.
Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
`I don't much care where--' said Alice.
`Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
`--so long as I get somewhere,' Alice added as an explanation.
`Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, `if you only walk long enough.'
I am tired of the leaders of this town walking us along this bumpy road they are taking us down that leads to nowhere. Actually where it is leading is to an eventual dead end. It is time for the people of New Albany and Floyd County to get off their collective “dead ends” and make a difference.
Yes I said Floyd County as well. If you think we can attain great things here in this county seat without those that live outside of the city limits, I think you are mistaken.
A recent post by a blogger described New Albany as a dying city based on her population decline from the 2000 census to July of ’07. What a “dweeb”. How many homes have been built just outside the city limits in the last nine years? And for that matter if you use Charlestown Rd as an example, how many are just on the north side of County Line Rd. with a Sellersburg address? Multiply that number by what a minimum of 2.5 per home. Ask these people where they live and see if they say Floyd County, Sellersburg or New Albany. I think I know where the missing 570 people have gone and where their hearts remain. We must not forget them and we must find a way to keep them involved in New Albany.
In response to Highwayman’s post of 2/16, Looking Back to Move Forward (we need to identify where we’re going in order to get there) is very true. That reminds me of one of the first books I ever read from cover to cover titled "If you dont know where you are going you will probably end up somewhere else" by David Campbell. However I think the first need is to define who “we” are. Will every voice wanting to be heard actually have a “listener”. Will someone be willing to “listen” to anyone? The problem right now is that the surface has not yet even been scratched as far as voices being “heard” not to mention actually having someone “listen”. Attend a council meeting and you may average seeing five people speak to council. To council these people represent five people with five different opinions and concerns. Think these people are being listened to or just heard?
Now take the scenario of 10 representatives from ten different neighborhood associations before city council. Each rep can prove that he represents 10 of the cities movers and shakers and the voices of 100 concerned and active citizens. Each of the 10 voices has the same opinion, the same concern and the same solution. Do you think these ten would just be heard or do you think council would actually listen? Those numbers represent 100 of the cities movers and shakers and 1000 actively concerned citizens. I am quite sure the “at large” members are paying attention and sure the council person whose precinct is targeted with the concern and solution is wide awake. So how many votes does it take to get something passed? The concern has just been brought before council and we are almost home already.
I know what you’re thinking. How did you get to those numbers and how is it possible to have that kind of organization? Well, you will have to stay tuned because it is nearly midnight. I suddenly and quite unexpectedly lost my father Sunday morning. I am a little down and very tired so I must stop now. Since I have part ll down and in notes I promise I will finish and post before I head to Ohio for services.
I believe selling an abstract, philosophical concept is difficult.
Which is OK, because it's not a commodity to be bought and sold.
Developing a vision statement is a collaborative effort in which stakeholders talk about the things they value - what means something to them, especially as it relates to where they work and/or live - until they reach a mutual understanding of which of those things they have in common and want to have define their community
There's give and take, negotiations and compromises. It's a learning process that, by the end, results in team work, cooperation, proof of cohesion, and hopefully a creative spark. When finished, you don't have to sell it to anybody because everybody is already a functioning part of it. They own it.
It establishes that stakeholders can communicate and work together, one foot in front of the other, before the stakes are raised. It's the part we always skip. And then stakeholders don't work together.
The team may get stronger or weaker over time but at least you've got one-- something that we've never really had.
If there’s a better way to phrase, let me know.
If the “vision” is not expressed by a series of bullets, let me know.
I already did, including giving you a working example. Please at least try it before you condemn it. If you really want to start to understand it, try it with a group. If you prefer to be a bit bolder, try it with a group with whom you don't necessarily agree or know well.
...once a sufficient number of people agree on a particular vision, what is your next step in putting vision into action?
Each of these steps can and should be covered in much more depth but this is a starting outline from NeighborWorks:
1. Read neighborhoods (or commercial district) to figure out what's working and what's not working in terms of people's decisions to invest or not.
2. Diagnose the underlying issues that led to the neighborhood's decline.
3. Set outcomes and indicators of progress/success for a healthy neighborhood.
4. Choose strategies that will best achieve those outcomes.
5. Assess and strengthen capacity to deliver revitalization strategies; implement strategies.
6. Measure progress toward outcomes, not activities.
7. Develop new strategies, based on outcomes, when needed-- when the old ones aren't enough or the situation changes.
I am a fan of the corner grocer making a comeback downtown. A bodega that would carry the essentials a downtown loft dweller, such as myself would need. A store that sold milk, eggs, cheap wine, and prophylactics would be a blessing.
I also believe that there is room for a dog park on the riverfront. Having a dog seems to be a requirement for downtown living and I always keep mine on a leash, but a small fenced in park for off the leash socializing should be looked into. I know I wouldn't mind a small yearly fee for the use of the park. This model is working in Louisville.
Finally, I would like to have a strip club within biking distance of downtown. And possibly a dedicated bike lane to and from said club would be appreciated.
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