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Southeast Quality of Life <br />Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan <br />and existing residents decreases. Inadequate or inconsistent code enforcement <br />can make the problem worse. As the attractiveness of the neighborhood <br />decreases, existing residents are likely to relocate outside of the neighborhood <br />and potential homeowners are likely to locate elsewhere. Reinvestment by <br />potential and existing homeowners must continue to ensure stability of property <br />values, property upkeep and new property purchases. Likewise, public entities <br />must continue reinvestment in the neighborhood's infrastructure. <br />Struggling Businesses <br />Reinvestment is also frustrated by difficulties in maintaining economically viable <br />businesses in the neighborhood. Neighborhood businesses first are fighting to <br />improve their image to the public -at -large; to eliminate the negative perception <br />of the character and quality of businesses in the area. Neighborhood <br />businesses are not only competing with other local businesses, but they are <br />also competing with the larger shopping centers in Mishawaka and outlining <br />areas for the expenditures of neighborhood residents. Reduced income from <br />neighborhood residents has led to disinvestment in property, which has in turn <br />led to a negative spiral of the attractiveness of businesses and their ability to <br />survive. <br />Remediation Measures <br />The first priority for land use and physical environment is to stabilize <br />redevelopment activity within the neighborhood. <br />• Neighborhood land use stabilization must emphasize housing stabilization. <br />Continued demolition of the neighborhood's housing stock and the erosion <br />of the core of the neighborhood must stop. Those owners of homes which <br />could be assisted by rehabilitation should be encouraged to rehabilitate <br />their property and should be guided through the process. Oversight, <br />funding, and operation of housing programs can occur through a local <br />housing development corporation. This organization could form as a spin <br />off of SEQL or under contract with an organization like South Bend <br />Heritage. Specific strategies are discussed in the Housing Working Paper. <br />• A primary land use strategy must be to conserve existing investments in <br />land uses and public and private improvements; the homes, businesses, <br />32 <br />