South Division Corridor Plan Project Idea Ranking Survey

Question Title

* 1. Please rank the following Community Identity project ideas

Hold an annual large community celebration. It is recommended that this event be held at Garfield Park or a similar location and be focused on the businesses, culture, and amenities of the entire community. This could include an expansion of the Taste on
South Division Event, the 2018 Community Celebration Kick-Off, or similar events.

Develop and support a variety of community events that emphasize diversity and appeal to all ages. Encourage coordinated development and promotion in a way that enhances overall community identity and recognition beyond the individual event. Examples of possible events could include: Multicultural Fairs, Business Expo/Celebration, Career Day, 5K Walk/Run, Youth Sports Tournament, Community Sales, Walking Tours, Community Clean-Up Events, Police Relations Events, Speaker Series, etc.

Create a neighborhood calendar and community directory. The directory should include key resources such as churches and schools and points of contact for community information. The format could include an online version, print copy, a physical or digital community information board, or combination. Materials should be designed to maximize accessibility to all residents, including translation into multiple languages.

Develop a streetscape improvement program to address lighting, wayfinding, signage, and transportation improvements, while promoting neighborhood identity (history, points, of interest, etc.). Signage should be multilingual and improvements should reduce access barriers.

Ensure all residents are represented through an active neighborhood association, particularly those who are within the previous SECA boundaries or who have never been historically covered by an association. Promote association meetings through community networks.

Support arts programs and public art development within the South Division Corridor. Specifically, create a mural development program to highlight community identity, resident history (i.e. wall of fame), and future vision. Encourage program partnerships between the Kroc Center, GRPS, ArtPrize and other organizations. Focus on youth engagement, development of local artists, and community unification.

Explore opportunities for the development of new cultural / community center spaces. The intent of a cultural center is to serve as a collective point of resources and services for the community, and other programming needs identified by residents. Potential options include development of an African American Center (similar to the Hispanic Center), renovation of the 4 Star Theatre, or other focus/locations to be identified.

Create a youth committee / board to foster understanding of the community and improve youth engagement. Purposes of the board would include engaging students in planning and design efforts to create a sense of community ownership among youth and their families, provide connections to community service activities that benefit local organizations and residents, and sponsorship of youth engagement activities.

Develop a coordinated marketing program for South Division Businesses. This program should both promote local businesses, as well as market the area to attract new businesses that serve the needs and preferences of the community. Coordinated business activities with community events (i.e. stop and shop, walking tour, etc.) and incentive programs (i.e. resident discount card) should be included.

Develop a storefront improvement program that focuses on both façade improvements for new and existing businesses as well as window programs and other efforts to mitigate the appearance of vacant storefronts.

Question Title

* 2. Please rank the following Development without Displacement project ideas

Facilitate home repair and improvements through education, services, and model programs. Create a clearinghouse of home repair and financial education services available to existing residents to maintain their home and ownership. Working with local partners, pilot a home rehabilitation program focused on a “model block improvement“ approach, historic model house rehab project, or other similar model that is both highly visible in terms of immediate return and can be easily replicated throughout the neighborhood.

Identify publicly owned properties that can be developed to help meet community needs (mixed-income housing, supportive retail, civic uses, etc.) and require Community Benefit Agreements as a part of the sale/development approval process. Potential properties may include the City-owned parking lot at Burton and South Division, South Field, and the Fire Station.

Explore alternative housing models, including co-housing and tiny homes. Develop a tiny homes model, including prototypes such as courtyard clusters or accessory dwelling units. Identify appropriate vacant properties for its implementation. Consider the need for permanent supportive housing. Seek Zoning Code amendments as necessary to allow and promote these alternative models.

Create a road map for development in the community which: (1) helps residents to understand process and become involved; (2) helps developers to package incentives, understand community expectations, approval and implementation guidance; (3) creates a measurable equitable development scorecard to which the community can evaluate and recognize progress. As a part of the process, encourage or require Community Benefit Agreements for new infill and redevelopment projects. Ensure neighborhood involvement in the development process.

Identify privately owned lands which may be appropriate for infill development, at multiple scales. Identify locations for mixed-use transit-oriented development at/near major intersections and BRT transit stops. Identify other underutilized properties along the corridor which could be aggregated in order to incentivize development. Create an inventory of vacant residential properties within three blocks of South Division which may be appropriate for small-scale residential infill development.

Advocate for changes to City and State Policy that maximize eligibility of South Division properties for incentive programs. Possible examples include: adjustments to LIHTC scoring; adjustments to Opportunity Zone boundaries; increases in Section 8 vouchers; changes to MISHDA QAPs; changes to brownfield and property rehab deferral periods; changes in state statute to allow rent-control initiatives; and changes in state statute to allow affordable/mixed-income requirements. Market the available package of incentives to developers as an enticement to invest on South Division.

Develop a strong connection between local employers and the available workforce within the neighborhood. Create and retain jobs with opportunity for training and advancement, particularly within the Cottage Grove area. Aggressively market workforce training programs to residents. Encourage employers to connect to the surrounding community through community partner programs, alternative transit incentives, employee housing models, or other programs that can help them to retain a stable, local workforce.

Seek out or develop alternative financial institutions/partnerships in order to expand financial accessibility for the community. Include both direct financial services for individuals and businesses as well as educational opportunity. Alternative financial tools that have greater accessibility to low-income, minority, and low-leveraged businesses are critical, including a focus on alternative lending criteria, micro-lending, and mission-driven community investment. Educational components should include credit repair counseling, down payment assistance, process guidance, etc.

Seek out alternative developer models that increase opportunities for local business owners, minority investors, and other community-focused individuals. Create financing vehicles that support mission-driven developers to acquire and maintain affordable units and vacant property. Encourage public-private investment through a community land trust, a neighbor-developer academy for technical small-scale development assistance, faith-community backed development, and similar models.

Question Title

* 3. Please rank the following Economic Opportunity project ideas

Foster the creation and growth of job training programs that link local employers with local residents. In addition to addressing immediate job demand and opportunities, programs should also be provided to help prepare youth for future career opportunities through early training and mentoring programs. (Potential opportunities have been identified around food systems, such as a training partnership between local food suppliers (Van Eerden, Butterball), the Downtown Market, local restaurants, and urban agriculture programs.)

Reestablish a strong business association. The intent of the Association is to provide representation for businesses along the entire corridor to foster a supportive business atmosphere. Collaboration should occur with the South Division Grandville Corridor Improvement District, the Southtown Corridor Improvement District and other organizations to identify shared goals and funding opportunities.

Create a business support network focused on the support and education of existing and emerging businesses along the corridor. Target services would include educational opportunities, assistance with business plan development, access to partner organizations, and access to pooled resources or buying opportunities. With long term success, the group could also transition to collateral support programs, microloans, or other revolving fund opportunities.

Create a storefront improvement program for one or more focus areas along the Corridor, including identification of appropriate funding and operational partners. The improvement program should include a façade improvement program for businesses, lighting and streetscape improvements, evaluation of enhanced wifi/internet availability and other infrastructure improvements that will collectively benefit the district and serve as an attractant for both customers and infill of vacant retail spaces.

Develop a business incubator space along the South Division Corridor. This incubator could provide some form of a creative co-working space along with an on-site café/coffee shop. It could also provide rotating locations, creating temporary pop-up retail spaces in vacant storefronts. Coordination with existing informal incubators, such as local flea markets and home-based businesses, could also support the business development pipeline. Minority/local preference is encouraged. (The 2009 South Division Space was identified as a potential location.)

Create an inventory of investment opportunities. Create and maintain an inventory of vacant properties along the corridor, including ownership information. Leverage the list to create both short-term opportunities (such as pop-up uses) and long-term opportunities for investment by local businesses or developers.

Recruit a credit union or minority-owned bank along the Corridor. Consider financial incentives that could attract the financial institution, such as commitment from local business owners to open accounts.

Require Community Benefit Agreements with larger developers, including a requirement to donate a portion of project costs (3% suggested) to the community in order to potentially foster start-up businesses.

Question Title

* 4. Please rank the following Health, Environment, & Quality of Life project ideas

Support access to fresh and affordable food along the corridor. Work with existing businesses to support the provision of fresh, healthy food and assist in promoting benefits and availability to sustain demand. Seek out additional outlets for the provision of fresh food, including partnership with local gardens, the veggie van service, the Community Food Club, food pantries, or other providers. Create a South Division Farmer’s Market and ensure that the market accepts SNAP and EBT cards. Consider affordable delivery programs or other options to increase availability to access-limited individuals.

Promote educational partnerships and activities surrounding healthy diets and food. Examples could include local community meals that partner chefs and local gardens, training to support legalization of cottage food providers, education regarding safe cooking equipment (particularly in relation to lead), and support of safe gardening practices.

Foster neighborhood initiatives that address both beautification and safety. Examples include a community porch lighting program, community-based peace/violence prevention programs, coordinated neighborhood cleanup and maintenance programs, etc. Encourage youth participation to satisfy required community service hours. Also encourage partnership opportunities and events that build positive relations with the community-based Police and Fire Representatives.

Create new opportunities for community gardens and green space within the community. Establish urban farms on large open spaces along Cottage Grove or other locations, either as interim or permanent uses. Also, encourage home gardening, along with testing soils to ensure lead-free locations. Consider establishing green roof gardens in conjunction with appropriate commercial properties.

Map community brownfields and develop a database of each site’s status and what steps will be necessary to remediate. Support redevelopment through education on DEQ / Brownfield Opportunities, Solar Incentives, and related economic development tools.

Conduct a community-wide health impact assessment to further public health and quality of life goals within the community. Develop a review checklist for development projects and other programs to determine consistency with community health priorities, particularly in regards to improving equitable health outcomes.

Recruit new or expanded health and family services to the corridor. Specific needs that have been identified include a pharmacy, urgent care medical services, and affordable child care. Also explore demand for related businesses and services, such as fitness centers.

Develop awareness of existing community health and safety resources. Create multilingual, informational brochures and mailers that map resources along the corridor. Offer a digital version as well.

Encourage continued investment in parks and community centers to serve the neighborhood. Connect people in the corridor to green space through trails, corridors and other green connections. Ensure parks and community centers provide programming based on resident need.

Question Title

* 5. Please rank the following Transportation project ideas

Encourage transit-oriented development adjacent to the Silver Line stops along the South Division Corridor. Determine both appropriate locations as well as the appropriate scale of development that balances the community and developer needs. Proactively work towards goals of mixed-income housing, support of local business, and economic empowerment of residents from the development process through continued operations through both strong policy and incentives.

Promote traffic calming measures to slow traffic and make area more approachable for pedestrians. Potential strategies could include reduction of turn-lanes in order to establish additional landscaped medians, creation of mid-block pedestrian crossing, installation of bulb-outs on side streets or where they can be accommodated without transit conflicts, and street tree programs.

Improve Route 1 through improvements to transit stops and increased frequency. Create transit stops that provide greater shelter and safety for riders. Potentially partner with private property owners to improve stations. Extend bus schedules along the corridor and create greater frequency, particularly for the high-volume northbound commute. Evaluate potential route changes to better connect to major employment locations.

Increase ridership of the Silver Line through both physical improvements and ridership initiatives. Improve the design and upkeep of the Silver Line Stations, including improved visibility around stops, improved cleaning and maintenance. Explore changes such as painted lanes or 24-hour designation that increase awareness and encourage compliance with BRT-only bus lanes. Address safety concerns around buses and stops, including expanded programs to educate riders on using the system and expected conduct. Consider changes to the fee schedule and payment options, including potential income-based scale, partnerships with major employers or other agencies to supplement or eliminate fees. Expand payment options and number of local retail locations offering Wave Cards.

Improve snow removal on sidewalks, particularly within the business districts and school routes. Coordinate with property owners on snow removal improvements, including potential creation of bulb-out raingardens to accommodate accumulated snow. Explore creation of a “snow angels” program to assist residents who are unable to remove snow due to physical limitations or other barriers.

Evaluate the location and design parking. Ensure convenient and consistently available parking. Evaluate areas where on-street parking could be removed and potentially change cross section of street. Consider angle and back-in parking along sections of South Division. Consider pay-by-plate or other systems that could reduce the need for meters and open locations for potential bicycle parking. Consider the utilization of off-street public parking. Promote park-and-ride lots as an opportunity to introduce people to the neighborhood and local business. Also, consider the potential incentives for the provision of public parking as a part of new commercial and mixed-use development.

Evaluate bike access in area and strategically identify priority pedestrian corridors with the goal of improving pedestrian amenities and bus service in these areas. Where needed, improve bicycle parking. Consider the potential for shared bicycle or scooter systems as a part of any improvements.