AGENDA # 4i
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Recommendations for Implementing Suggestions in the Sykes Street Action Strategy
DATE September 24, 2001
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a staff response to an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street Area prepared by students from the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning.
The attached resolution would endorse the Sykes Street Action Plan presented to the Council on May 21, 2001, and authorize the Town’s continued participation in implementing a plan for making improvements in the Sykes Street neighborhood.
On January 8, 2001, Robert Dowling of the Orange Community Housing and Land Trust and Mark Chilton of EmPOWERment, Inc. requested the Town’s participation in a proposed project to develop an action strategy for the Sykes Street area of the Northside neighborhood. Mr. Dowling and Mr. Chilton stated that the goals of the action strategy would be: (1) to develop a comprehensive approach to revitalize the Northside neighborhood; and (2) to establish recommendations to improve the quality of housing and increase public safety in the Sykes Street area.
At that meeting, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Town to participate in and provide technical assistance and staff support in an advisory capacity to develop an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street area of the Northside neighborhood (please see Attachment 1). Orange Community Housing and Land Trust, EmPOWERment, Inc., neighborhood residents and the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning class of Dr. William Rohe also participated in this process. The Council agreed to provide $500 of Community Development funds for class expenses related to the project.
Since January 2001, a Steering Committee consisting of representatives of EmPOWERment, Inc., the Orange Community Housing Corporation, the Sykes Street neighborhood, and the Town (including representatives from the Manager’s Office, and the Housing, Planning, Parks and Recreation, and Police Departments) have met to discuss a variety of issues facing the Sykes Street neighborhood.
THE ACTION STRATEGY
On May 21, 2001, the Department of City and Regional Planning students presented their report, “A New Approach to Development Recommendations for Resident-Driven Community Building in the Sykes Street Area” to the Council. The students outlined the report and recommendations. Recommendations were divided into four categories: (1) Increasing Community Involvement; (2) Crime and Safety Improvements; (3) Housing; and (4) Infrastructure.
After the student presentation, the Council referred this report to the Manager, with instructions to return with a follow-up report in the fall.
DISCUSSION
Since the student report was presented to the Council, the Steering Committee has continued to meet to discuss strategies for implementing recommendations in the report and other recommendations suggested by the Steering Committee. As reported to the Council during the May 21, 2001 presentation, a student from the Department of City and Regional Planning worked with the Planning Department this summer to coordinate activities related to the Sykes Street project.
Attachment 2 lists the report recommendations, describes the responsible entities, summarizes activities to date, and lists potential future actions.
The Department of City and Regional Planning has committed two classes of graduate students to work on the Sykes Street project over the next year. The Steering Committee and the students have developed the attached work plan for the next semester (please see Attachment 3). Students participating in the class in the Spring of 2002 will develop a work plan for Phase II.
A key recommendation from the Action Strategy is that increased community involvement is crucial in order to successfully revitalize the Sykes Street neighborhood. Phase I of the proposed work plan focuses on designing and implementing a community involvement effort in the Sykes Street area. Though the Northside Community Association and the Northside Neighborhood Watch are active in the Northside neighborhood, there has been little participation from residents of the Sykes Street area in either group. As outlined in the work plan, the students propose to identify and develop neighborhood leadership, planning and assisting in the implementation of community events and organizing community charettes focusing on reducing crime in the community and environmental design changes to improve the community.
Phase II, which would be implemented in spring 2002, would include working with the Steering Committee and residents identified in Phase I to develop a housing education program. The education program could cover issues such as educating homeowners about predatory lending practices, tools for maintaining long-term affordability, options for property transfers from elderly homeowners, and providing assistance to draw up wills.
In January 2001, the Council authorized use of $500 of Community Development funds for the project. Of this amount, $294 was spent. We suggest that the Council consider budgeting the balance of last year’s allocation plus an additional $300 to implement the next phase of this project.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution endorsing the Sykes Street Action Plan and authorizing the Town’s continued participation in implementing the plan for making improvements in the Sykes Street neighborhood. The two-phased approach suggested in the attached work plan could increase community involvement in the planning process. We also recommend that the Council authorize $300 of Community Development Neighborhood Revitalization funds for expenses related to this project.
1. January 8, 2001 Memorandum to Mayor and Town Council (p. 5).
2. Chart of Recommendations, Responsible Entities, Action Taken to Date, and Potential Future Actions (p. 8).
3. Proposed Work Plan Prepared by the UNC Department of City and Regional Planning (p. 11).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN’S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN IMPLEMENTING A PLAN FOR MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SYKES STREET NEIGHBORHOOD (2001-09-24/R-7)
WHEREAS, in December 2000, Orange Community Housing and Land Trust and EmPOWERment, Inc. proposed a partnership among community organizations, neighborhood residents, the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning, and the Town of Chapel Hill to develop an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street area; and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2001, the Council authorized the Town’s participation in developing an Action Strategy for the Sykes Street area; and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2001, students from the UNC Department of City and Regional Planning presented a report to the Council that included recommendations for making improvements in the Sykes Street neighborhood;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the town of Chapel Hill that
the Council endorses the Sykes Street Action Plan and authorizes the Town’s
continued participation in implementing a plan for making improvements in the
Sykes Street neighborhood.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the use of $300 of Community Development funds for class expenses related to the project.
This the 24th day of September, 2001.