SoutheastNeighborhoodStrategicActionPlan_January1995_Current

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Southeast Quality of Life Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan properties within the neighborhood. When single family homes become available, they are often purchased by investment property owners ("slumlords") who fail to rehabilitate or maintain the properties. Further, interviewees stated that due to a lack of proper tenant screening, tenants are increasingly becoming "bad characters" and negative influences on the neighborhood. Interviewees would like to see conversion and rehabilitation of many of the rental properties back to single family and the remaining rental properties rehabilitated and managed by quality landlords. The interviewees had mutual distrust of both tenant and landlords with respect to property upkeep. Significant numbers of incoming institutional uses were also identified by interviewees as a significant issue. Although several potential users such as Ivy Tech may be of great benefit to the neighborhood as well as to the community - at -large, concern was raised regarding the locations with respect to the neighborhood character of the area, and the need of institutions to contribute as a partner to the neighborhood's revitalization — through employee volunteer work, employment opportunities, visual enhancement of the neighborhood, etc. Open space and recreation were identified as key issues to address in the planning process. Although the neighborhood has large park, since the Coleman shooting, the interviewees said that residents have not used park facilities. According to interviewees, the park is used primarily by drug dealers and threatening individuals. Further, the existing parks are not adequately staffed or properly maintained. "It's just not safe to use the parks," was a frequent comment by residents. However, all persons identified a need for open space and recreational opportunities, especially for youth. The Garden Program sponsored by Revelation C.O.G.I.C. and the Fire Department, is one of several successful programs making productive use of available vacant parcels while simultaneously making productive use of youth energies. Several key issues related to commercial uses were identified by interviewees. First, all interviewees would like to eliminate the "adult" uses along the corridor. They felt that not only do they perpetuate a negative image of the neighborhood at large, they also serve as breeding grounds for criminal activities. Numerous successful, "acceptable" businesses exist along the Michigan commercial corridor, however interviewees felt that employment opportunities for neighborhood residents at these businesses were limited. Alternatively, according to several business owners, skilled workers from the neighborhood 120