01-27-14 Council Agenda & Packet

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Spring Forward, a "Future Blooms" type project The mission of this project is to beautify the window and door coverings, usually made of plywood of the vacant and abandoned homes in South Bend. This is a neighborhood defined project, in which neighbors, neighborhood associations, the NRC, cstackstudios, LLC., local businesses, and the city work together to identify the abandoned homes most in need of temporary surface treatments. "The Broken Window Theory" provides a framework with proven success to address this issue of vacancy. By painting doors, windows, and awnings on the barricades of abandoned homes, Spring Forward will be able to restore a sense of identity to local neighborhoods, encourage economic development, and provide awareness of local business opportunities. Steps: 1. Meet with local neighborhoods to identify two things: local artists and homes that are most problematic within a given neighborhood. Using the services of the city we are able to identify all vacant homes and come up with a database of homes that have the potential to be used for this project. By working with neighbors, neighborhood associations and community organizations, pinpointing specific areas and homes is made possible. A web interface will be created to provide images, addresses, and specifics of each home. 2. Once the homes have been identified and each neighborhood has been both made aware of the project and invited to participate, a planning committee will be initiated. This committee will organize the homes, match them with artists and also solicit local businesses to sponsor each home. 3. Once sponsorship, artist, and home have been paired for all homes within a given neighborhood (by February 151), supplies will be gathered, and each homes specific window and door replacements will be cut to size and prepared. The initial sketches and designs for each home will be submitted to the "Spring Forward" committee for approval and finalized. 4. On Saturday, March 8, artists, committee and other volunteers will be working to make the paintings. (Media will be in attendance for both days). This local event can and should be hosted in a location relevant to each neighborhood, i.e., a place where people feel comfortable, safe and have the space to do the work. These images will be photographed and documented and accredited to the artist and their sponsoring business for records on this evening. 5. On Sunday, March 9, artists, the committee, and volunteers will install the plywood panels on each home. These will be documented and an evening celebration at a local gathering spot will be prepared. 6. Assessment, recognition, documentation, and follow up will be conducted both during and after the event. This will be conducted in tandem between neighborhood associations, the NRC and cstackstudios, LLC.