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33 <br />Support Existing Neighbors <br />An engaged and active community is a powerful <br />neighborhood resource. The City wishes to support <br />efforts spearheaded by neighbors, community orga- <br />nizations, businesses, and other stakeholders that aim <br />to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. <br />Area residents and stakeholders are often better able <br />to implement ideas than government. Neighbors best <br />know their neighborhood, challenges, and opportu- <br />nities while government can have required processes <br />and policies which can hinder a project. <br />Though ideas may start out as small opportunities, <br />implementing several small, incremental efforts can <br />have a large impact. The positive momentum that is <br />created around locally driven efforts reinforces the <br />value of past commitments and encourages people to <br />pursue future projects. Neighbors, community organi- <br />zations, and stakeholders working together with city <br />government can have a lasting impact on neighbor- <br />hood quality of life. <br />Ultimately, a goal of a neighborhood plan is to make <br />improvements to the area that benefit those who cur- <br />rently live there. While future efforts will not directly <br />impact every property in the entire neighborhood, <br />there are opportunities to ensure residents have <br />access to resources which can improve their quality of <br />life. This includes the exploration of new or expanded <br />programs, continuing existing programs, and increas- <br />ing awareness of available resources. <br />The City recognizes there are challenges that the <br />neighborhood and its residents face – including in- <br />frastructure needs, crime, and limited incomes. These <br />challenges also impact other residents and neighbor- <br />hoods throughout our community. Citywide chal- <br />lenges must be looked at from a higher level and be <br />addressed in a more holistic way. While solutions may <br />need to be tailored to varying circumstances across <br />neighborhoods, we need to tackle these issues with a <br />thoughtful, city level approach. <br />Credit: Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. <br />Credit: Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. <br />Credit: Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc.Credit: Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc.