AGENDA #4e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: A Resolution Authorizing Continued Participation in the Sykes Street Project
DATE: February 11, 2002
The attached resolution would authorize the Town’s continued participation in implementing a plan for making improvements in the Sykes Street neighborhood.
Since January 2001, a Steering Committee consisting of representatives of EmPOWERment, Inc., Orange Community Housing and Land Trust, the Sykes Street neighborhood, students from the University of North Carolina Department of City and Regional Planning, 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.
During the fall semester, the Steering Committee and students focused on identifying and developing neighborhood leadership and planned two key events: a community charrette focusing on reducing crime in the community and environmental design changes to improve the community and a community clean up and block party. The students presented their report to the Council on January 14, 2002. We will return to the Council on March 4, 2002 with a response to issues raised in the report.
DISCUSSION
This spring the students plan to continue to identify and develop neighborhood leadership. First, the students will organize a charrette/neighborhood visioning in March to follow up on issues that were raised at the previous charrette in November. The students would also organize smaller block group gatherings in resident’s homes to discuss specific issues. Potential topics for the block group meetings include public safety, alternative homeownership models (i.e. the land trust model), options for property transfers from elderly homeowners, and providing assistance to draw up wills. Students also plan to work with the Police Department’s youth program to provide assistance with empowering the youth of the community.
In January 2001 and in September 2001, the Council authorized use of $500 of Community Development funds for the project. We recommend that the Council consider authorizing an additional $500 to implement the next phase of this project.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town’s continued participation in implementing the plan for making improvements in the Sykes Street neighborhood. The two-phased approach could increase community involvement in the planning process. We also recommend that the Council authorize $500 of Community Development Neighborhood Revitalization funds for expenses related to this project.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN’S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN IMPLEMENTING A PLAN FOR MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SYKES STREET NEIGHBORHOOD (2002-02-11/R-5)
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 September 24, 2001 the Council authorized the Sykes Street Action Plan and authorized the Town’s continued participation in implementing a plan for making improvements in the Sykes Street neighborhood, including the sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council 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 $500 of Community Development funds for class expenses related to the project.
This the 11th day of February, 2002.