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Whitehall residents surveyed see strong need to clean up, tear down deteriorated properties The results from surveys conducted last week at an open house for the Southwest Washington Redevelopment Plan have been compiled, and a strong majority of those Whitehall area residents surveyed said that there was a problem and that change was needed. The City of Washington and CSRA Regional Development Center are cooperating on a plan to redevelop deteriorated parts of southwest Washington. They heard from residents, homeowners, and business owners at a public 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 with residents. Survey participants strongly agreed with statements such as, "Vacant lots or buildings hurt property values in southwest Washington" and "Property owners should maintain their property/buildings." Most said no when asked, "There is enough safe, clean, decent, and affordable housing in the area." They were evenly split on the question, "I feel safe in my neighborhood - crime is not a problem." Residents surveyed felt strongly about nuisance properties and the responsibilities of property owners. Almost every participant agreed In another effort focused at the with this statement, "Many properties in Southwest Washington are overgrown with weeds, filled with trash, and/or inoperative vehicles." Almost all agreed that "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. Most agreed that having enough money for a down payment and closing costs was a major barrier to home ownership, as was the ability to receive a mortgage loan. Many said that not understanding the home buying process was a major barrier. 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. redevelopment area, students from the University of Georgia's Center for Community Design and Preservation came to Washington Friday and Saturday for an intensive and creative work session. The design charrette filled the City Hall Annex with students brainstorming and sketching from Friday morning through Saturday. "When we're done, we'll have a conceptual master plan for redevelopment," said Pratt Cassity, director of the Center for Community Design and Preservation. The finished project will give the city several options of what to do with different parts of the planning area. The design charrettes have been used in dozens of Georgia towns and cities, Cassity said. Cities find that having such a master plan makes it more likely they'll receive the funding they need to make the needed changes in their neighborhoods. 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.
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