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To accomplish these purposes, a commercial corridor action <br />plan builds on the strengths and weaknesses of the existing <br />neighborhoods and businesses, uses the available physical <br />resources and support systems, fits trends, and recognizes <br />development opportunities. These are the tangible and intangible <br />aspects of the area that define it for the community. <br />Every plan benefits from a structure that organizes the effort into <br />goals, objectives, and action steps. A goal defines where the <br />effort is heading. An objective defines strategies that will be <br />necessary to achieve the goal, and action steps outline specific <br />procedures for meeting each objective. <br />The goal of this Portage Avenue Action Plan is: <br />To establish Portage Avenue as an asset that enhances <br />the adjoining neighborhoods and also provides shopping <br />nodes that satisfy the convenience and services needs of <br />nearby residents. <br />Although this goal addresses the purposes of this study, it is only <br />part of the answer to the question, "What do the residents of <br />Portage Ave have to do for these traditional neighborhoods to <br />realize their full potential?" The issues facing surrounding <br />neighborhoods are broaderthan the repairof commercial areas. <br />However, the improvement of commercial areas is a very visible <br />sign of revitalization evidentto the residents as well as travelers <br />along Portage Avenue. Successful improvement of Portage's <br />commercial nodes will be a powerful sign of the area's potential. <br />The challenges for revitalization are less than in some other <br />areas of South Bend's west side because buildings like the NNN <br />center and the Martins store are in good condition. The area <br />need only be "enhanced" not "rescued." As the Portage Avenue <br />market improves through this Action Plan, it also has the <br />potential to satisfy the stated national goal of "smart growth" by <br />providing redevelopment sites that avoid the detrimental effects <br />of sprawl. <br />This plan's success hinges on ease of implementation. To that <br />end, the consultants have focused this Action Plan on providing <br />these elements, the keys to effective implementation: <br />A base of facts and valid assumptions, <br />Participation from all constituencies, <br />Measurable, achievable goals, <br />Feasible, specific, and complete Action Steps, <br />Provision for regular review and adjustment of the <br />Action Plan. <br />The pages that follow briefly examine the market conditions and <br />participation in the planning process by constituencies. The <br />majority of this document provides detailed information on tactics <br />designed to achieve the goal. <br />This study process has generated private sector interest in the <br />revitalization goal and the City of South Bend has committed to <br />funding initial efforts. These elements have created momentum <br />for improvement that suggests quick action to organize and <br />begin implementing the recommended tactics. <br />Portage Avenue Corridor Revitalization Plan October 1999 Page 7 <br />