RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Citizens give input on city's new redevelopment plan
Thursday night, the City of Washington and the CSRA Regional Development Center heard from the public at an open house at the Reese J. Booker Center. Christian F. Lentz of the RDC and his staff took detailed surveys from members of the neighborhood, and discussed maps and plans the Southwest Washington Redevelopment Plan with residents. The redevelopment plan is designed, Lentz said, to promote housing redevelopment, promote commercial investment, and clear dilapidated housing in the Whitehall area. The studies leading up to the plan have identified five goals that need to be addressed, he said, including promoting housing redevelopment, improving street utilities, abating nuisance (dilapidated) properties, promoting neighborhood commercial investment; and providing adult education on personal finances, credit counseling, and home ownership. Whitehall residents, property owners, and other concerned citizens - more then 100 during the evening - filled out surveys that asked them if they agreed or disagreed with statements such as, Environment and Design to Washington TheNews- "Vacant lots or buildings hurt property values in southwest Washington" and "Property owners should maintain their property/buildings." Part of the survey concerned nuisance properties. Participants were asked if they agreed or disagreed with statements such as, "Property owners should be punished for allowing properties to remain in an unkempt condition (weeds, trash, inoperable vehicles, etc.)" The survey also asked for opinions in the area of housing availability and development, and asked about barriers to home ownership in southwest Washington. The next step in the redevelopment process is this week's design workshop called a "charrette." A project of the University of Georgia's Center for Community Design and Preservation, the design charrette will bring students and instructors from UGA's College of Friday and Saturday for an intensive and creative work session in which the design team will focus on a particular community problem and arrive at a collaborative solution. The charrette will begin in the City Hall Annex Friday morning at 9 and will open with an overview for advisory board members and the public. The session will last into the night Friday and go through Saturday. The planning area includes parts of Washington roughly bounded by Lexington Avenue and Liberty Street on the north, 42nd Street and Spring Street on the east, and the city limits on the south and west. A map of the redevelopment area can be seen at City Hall. The final redevelopment plan will be given to the Washington City Council by July. | |||||
)