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34 <br />Vacant Lot Activation <br />There are nearly 500 unimproved properties in the <br />neighborhood. Using the Analysis of Residential Mar- <br />ket Potential, completed in 2018, the potential de - <br />velopment over 20 years is anticipated to impact less <br />than 50% of the unimproved properties. Ultimately, <br />solutions for the reuse of many neighborhood lots will <br />not be new buildings, but rather a community en- <br />gaged effort to activate the vacant lot. Types of acti- <br />vation can range from a garden to a playground, or an <br />art space to a dog park, and everything in between. <br />For lot activation to be successful, one of the key <br />elements is that there is community buy-in for the <br />project. Community members need to develop the <br />idea, create the space, and maintain it as a community <br />asset. Without this type of ownership projects will be <br />unlikely to have long term success, potentially return- <br />ing to an inactivate space within a short time. The City <br />is developing a resource guide to assist neighbors in <br />coming together to activate vacant lots and creating a <br />true neighborhood asset. <br />It is a common misunderstanding that the City owns <br />all the vacant lots throughout our community. The <br />City does not own most of the unimproved properties <br />within the neighborhood. As a result, collaboration <br />and engagement with property owners will be an im- <br />portant part of any effort to activate lots. Depending <br />on the project, setting up a way to take ownership of <br />the property might be necessary. <br />The birthday chair is a place making effort <br />Urban gardening <br />Sherman Avenue community garden and gathering space <br />Portage Avenue Unity Garden