University Park East Blueprint for Change by Farr Associates

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE FINAL - JANUARY 16, 2017

BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE PREPARED FOR:

BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE PREPARED BY:

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Choice Neighborhoods Steering Committee: Dr. Vanessa Allen, Urban League of Northwest Indiana Kelly Anoe, Legacy Foundation Linda Barnes-Caldwell, Councilwoman 5th District Jena Bellezza, Indiana Parenting Institute Deardra Campbell, City of Gary, Commerce Dana Christian, CVR Associates Arlene Colvin, City of Gary, Community Development Denise Dillard, Methodist Hospitals Jack Eskin, City of Gary, Redevelopment Mary Felton, University Park East Resident Deven Gibbs, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Kisha Girder, City of Gary, Planning Sharon Harvey, Small Business Association Sharon Hutton, Gary Housing Authority Eman Ibrahim, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission Bo Kemp, Gary Economic Development Corporation Mary Lee, Indiana University Northwest and University Park East Resident

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Richard Leverett, AT&T Julian Marsh, Gary Housing Authority Dr. Marlon Mitchell, Ivy Tech Community College Dr. Alexis Montevirgen, Indiana University Northwest Alicia Nunn, ARISE Gary Rosie Passmore, Gary Housing Authority Lori Peterson Latham, City of Gary, Parks Dr. Cheryl Pruitt, Gary Community School Corporation Cynthia Pruitt, Calumet Township Trustee Commander Kerry Rice, Gary Police Department Diana Sandlin, City of Gary Brenda Scott-Henry, City of Gary, Environmental Affairs/ Green Urbanism Steve Strains, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission James Van der Kloot, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Joseph Van Dyk, City of Gary, Redevelopment David Wright, Gary Public Transportation Corporation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued): Economic Development Working Group:

Family Well-Being Working Group:

Bo Kemp, Co-Chair, Gary Economic Development Corporation Sharon Harvey, Co-Chair, Small Business Association

Jena Bellezza, Co-Chair, Indiana Parenting Institute Denise Dillard, Co-Chair, Methodist Hospitals

Kelly Anoe, Legacy Foundation Lillian Beasley, Lux Special Events Hussain Bhanpuri, ACCION Chicago Deardra Campbell, City of Gary, Commerce Arlene Colvin, City of Gary, Community Development Deven Gibbs, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Steve Hall, ACCION Chicago Eman Ibrahim, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission Yvette Irons-Johnson, First Midwest Bank Garvester Kelly, Federal Reserve Bank Chicago Dr. Alexis Montevirgen, Indiana University Northwest Art Russell, Centier Bank Diana Sandlin, City of Gary Peter Smith, Small Business Association Indianapolis James Van der Kloot, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Kelly Anoe, Legacy Foundation Linda Barnes-Caldwell, Councilwoman 5th District Felisha Brown, Community HealthNet Beryl Fitzpatrick, Community HealthNet Deven Gibbs, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Dara Grimes, Marram Health Center Sharron Liggins, Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana/Drug Free Gary Coalition Darling Pleasant, Community HealthNet Rise Ratney, Northwest Indiana Healthy Start Diana Sandlin, City of Gary Anna Schoon, Northwest Indiana Community Action Ceona Smith, WDS Group Laura Smith-Wynn, Indiana Parenting Institute Janelle St. John, Edgewater Systems for Balanced Living Channae Watkins, Marram Health Center Clay Webb, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Labor Dwight Williams, Oak Street Health

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued): Housing Working Group:

Neighborhood Services/Amenities Working Group:

Arlene Colvin, Co-Chair, City of Gary, Community Development Jack Eskin, Co-Chair, City of Gary, Redevelopment

Lori Peterson Latham, Co-Chair, City of Gary, Parks David Wright, Co-Chair, Gary Public Transportation Corporation

Henry Blackburn, University Park East Resident Taryl Bonds, Gary Housing Authority Stephen Broadwell, Gary Sanitary District Dana Christian, CVR Associates La’Kisha Girder, City of Gary, Planning Deven Gibbs, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sharon Hutton, Gary Housing Authority Yvette Irons-Johnson, First Midwest Bank Elizabeth Johnson, Congressman Visclosky Bo Kemp, Gary Economic Development Corporation Alex Koerner, City of Gary, Redevelopment/VISTA Vernita Leslie, Broadway Area Community Development Corporation Marc Lopez, Congressman Visclosky Steven Marcus, Former City of Gary, Building Julian Marsh, Gary Housing Authority Dawn Michaels, Habitat for Humanity Northwest Indiana Frank Petrites, Resident Iris Reeves, Gary Resident Diana Sandlin, City of Gary Zeid Sharif, Gary Resident Joseph Van Dyk, City of Gary, Redevelopment

Linda Barnes-Caldwell, Councilwoman 5th District Dana Christian, CVR Associates Arlene Colvin, City of Gary, Community Development Jack Eskin, City of Gary, Redevelopment Deven Gibbs, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development La’Kisha Girder, City of Gary, Planning Sharon Hutton, Gary Housing Authority Elizabeth Johnson, Congressman Visclosky Cloteal LaBroi, City of Gary, Public Works Dr. Marlon Mitchell, Ivy Tech Community College Dr. Alexis Montevirgen, Indiana University Northwest Anthony Scott, City of Gary, VISTA Brenda Scott-Henry, City of Gary, Environmental Affairs/ Green Urbanism

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued): Public Safety Working Group: Mary Lee, Co-Chair, University Park East Resident/Indiana University Northwest Commander Kerry Rice, Co-Chair, Gary Police Department Kelly Anoe, Legacy Foundation Detective Clifford Caldwell, Indiana University Northwest Police Department Sergeant Brandon Campbell, Indiana University Northwest Police Department Joy Holliday, Gary for Life Chief Wayne James, Indiana University Northwest Police Department Chief Larry McKinley, Gary Police Department Kashontia Scott, Gary Police Department

Resident Engagement/Leadership Development Working Group: Kelly Anoe, Co-Chair, Legacy Foundation Mary Felton, Co-Chair, University Park East Resident Henry Blackburn, University Park East Resident Silvana Blackburn, University Park East Resident Bobby Davis, University Park East Resident Melody Howard, University Park East Resident Chris Huggins, University Park East Resident Darlene King-Thompson, University Park East Resident Ola Morris, Federation of Block Clubs Frank Petrites, Resident Loren Ross, University Park East Resident Robert Ross, University Park East Resident Ida Sain, University Park East Resident Diana Sandlin, City of Gary Rose Scovel, Indiana Association for Community Economic Development Betty Welch, University Park East Resident

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued): Workforce Development/Adult Education Working Group:

Youth Development/Education Working Group:

Dr. Marlon Mitchell, Co-Chair, Ivy Tech Community College Cynthia Pruitt, Co-Chair, Calumet Township Trustee

Dr. Cheryl Pruitt, Co-Chair, Gary Community School Corporation Carmen Wilson, Co-Chair, Jobs After Graduation

Deven Gibbs, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Garvester Kelly, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Bo Kemp, Gary Economic Development Corporation Regina Kennedy, University Park East Resident Ron McCullough, Ivy Tech Community College Bennie Muhammad, Gary Commission on the Social Status of Black Males Rico Nash, WorkOne Indiana Diana Sandlin, City of Gary Caroline Schrenker, Indiana University Northwest James Wallace, Indiana University Northwest Clay Webb, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Labor Carmen Wilson, Jobs After Graduation

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Vanessa Allen, Urban League of Northwest Indiana Ken Barry, City Life Center Jena Bellezza, Indiana Parenting Institute Nina Burton, Woodland Child Development Center Ceean Cohill, ARISE Gary Deven Gibbs, Strong Cities Strong Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Ellen McGee, Geminus Corporation Dr. Marlon Mitchell, Ivy Tech Community College Anthony Scott, City of Gary, VISTA Era Twyman, Gary Literacy Coalition Rachael Wright, Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana

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CONTENTS 0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 INTRODUCTION

2 COMMUNITY PROCESS AND CONTEXT

3 BLUEPRINT ELEMENTS

4 HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS

5 MOVING FORWARD

APPENDIX

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“We are doing great things.” - Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson

0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Starting from where we are today to what we want as our preferred future, the Blueprint for Change is our roadmap for realizing the full potential of the University Park East neighborhood. Developed over the course of a two-year long planning process that involved hundreds of neighborhood residents, local organizations and service providers, major stakeholders including Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College, and City departments, the Blueprint for Change outlines the strategic investments and actions necessary to transform University Park East into a place of opportunity, growth and health for all residents and community stakeholders, both now and in the future. Through a multi-pronged approach that focuses on both individuals and families as well as physical improvements and service enhancements, the Blueprint encompasses short- and long-term strategies that address the immediate needs and challenges of current residents and businesses and set the stage for new investment and development that capitalizes upon the inherent and existing assets in the community.

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OUR VISION FOR UNIVERSITY PARK EAST University Park East is a thriving and vibrant community where families can raise their children and seniors can grow old, where students come to study and young professionals are a part of the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revival, where the streets are walkable and the business district is active, where residents feel safe and connected to their neighbors, and where everyone enjoys high quality amenities and can lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

To achieve the vision for University Park East as a hub for education, health, shopping and community, the Blueprint is organized around three Elements that capture the heart and spirit of how the community envisions moving forward: +

Invest in Ourselves: Cultivate the Foundation for Individual and Family Success

Elevate Our Strengths: (Re)Build Our Community

Prepare for Our Future: Invest Today for a Better Tomorrow

Each Blueprint Element resonated deeply with residents - in sync with their needs and concerns, and inspirational with its positivity, belief and energy that things can and will improve in the community they call home.

Each of us plays an integral role in shaping the future of our community.

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WE WILL INVEST IN OURSELVES ...and cultivate the foundation for individual and family success through strategic investments in education, health, and workforce programming to support UP-East residents in achieving their hopes and dreams. Some key strategies include:

Prioritize the development of our youth by meeting students where they are to offer quality out-of-school time programming that extends classroom learning and supports academic achievement and positive youth development.

Connect residents to services that foster well-being by improving access to quality health care services that allow residents to establish a relationship with a primary health care provider and have a medical home.

Prepare for the workforce by supporting adults in building the skills for success in the workplace including soft and technical skills that allow residents to enter the workforce and progress along a career pathway.

Establish an information network to share resources and promote engagement by working to create additional venues for information distribution that leverage the communication tools that are already in place in the community.

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TAKING ACTION NOW... TO INVEST IN OURSELVES To address the need for better access to health care services, Edgewater Systems opened up Edgewater Primary CARE facility on Broadway in UP-East in November 2016. The facility offers patients an integrated model of health care where they can be treated for all kinds of illnesses and receive behavioral health services on site. Additionally, Community HealthNet was awarded funding to construct a new Federally Qualified Health Center across from Ivy Tech on 35th Avenue. Construction will begin in summer 2017 with a planned opening in spring 2018.

WE WILL ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS ...and (re)build our community by ensuring that we address the needs of our legacy residents and businesses who are already vested in seeing the neighborhood regain the vibrancy, spirit and sense of community it once had. Some key strategies include:

TAKING ACTION NOW... TO ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS In August 2016, the Gary Police Department reactivated its bike patrol in the community, getting police officers out of their cars and building better relationships with community members. The Indiana University Northwest Police Department also participated in community outreach efforts through its Sweet Treat Ice Cream Truck initiative. On a hot summer night in August, IUN Police Officers handed out ice cream to local residents, especially children, to help them realize that the police are not only there to enforce the laws, but are also there to protect them.

Inspire resident involvement and collaboration by uniting residents for a common cause, i.e. betterment of the neighborhood where one lives, works, and raises a family

Ensure a quality rental housing stock by reforming the Rental Registration program and empowering residents to know what acceptable housing conditions are and what constitutes a good lease

Address the needs of existing homeowners by changing and expanding the ways home repair assistance is provided and grow future homeowners through the application of existing homebuyer programs to UP-East

Foster stronger police-community relations by increasing opportunities for positive interactions between police officers and residents and enlisting them to support the work of the police

Support existing businesses by connecting them to programs and resources that can help them grow their sales revenue

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WE WILL PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE ...and invest today for a better tomorrow by starting now to address the barriers to redevelopment and ready the community to capture the new growth and investment that is possible. Some key strategies include:

Grow local entrepreneurship by developing and delivering training workshops and education initiatives for residents who are interested in starting their own business

Increase multi-modal transportation options by enhancing the public transit user experience with better shelters and amenities and expanding the existing public transit network

Reclaim the residential landscape by cleaning up abandoned and vacant homes and lots and putting in place a long-term maintenance program

Focus on the environment and open space by installing green infrastructure to mitigate the impact of flooding in the neighborhood

Prime the pump for future investment by aggregating lots in target areas and adopting new zoning based upon the type of development desired

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TAKING ACTION NOW... TO PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE In early 2017, the Department of Commerce will launch the Gary Micro-enterprise Initiative to facilitate job creation by promoting self-employment as a viable alternative to “traditional” employment and cultivate “home-grown” businesses. Additionally, in anticipation of the start of the Broadway Metro Express service, spring 2017 will bring capital improvements on Broadway including paving, new bus shelters with solar lighting, benches, bike amenities and signage. The new bus shelters at Broadway and 35th will incorporate public art through the support of the Legacy Foundation.

HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS UP-East has real potential to attract new development and investment. From the 10,000 employees and students that past through the community on a daily basis, and the new IUN Arts and Sciences Building opening in mid-2017, to the launch of the Broadway Metro Express rapid bus service, UP-East has the opportunity to capitalize on the market energy generated by these investments. New development must be supported with concurrent investments in the physical fabric of the neighborhood.

TAKING ACTION NOW... BEN FRANKLIN SCHOOL SITE Closed in 2008, the Ben Franklin Elementary School has sat vacant like 20 other public schools across the City of Gary. Currently a blighting influence on the neighborhood, the possibility of redeveloping the site could be closer to reality. The Gary Community School Corporation and the Gary Redevelopment Commission are in the process of negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding that would allow the Commission to market and sell vacant school property in return for dedicated tax increment funding to the GCSC.

Informed by a recent market assessment and on-the-ground realities, redevelopment is divided into three phases over time - allowing it to be flexible as the market changes in the future and other new development and investment happen in the neighborhood. +

Phase 1 - up to 5,500 sf of commercial space such as a coffee shop and a fast-casual restaurant, and 80100 residential units in a mixed-income, multi-story building at the southwest corner of Broadway of 35th. Begin infill housing along 35th between Broadway and Tennessee.

Phase 2 - continue infill housing on 35th. Develop a new grocery store or pharmacy at the intersection of Broadway and Ridge.

Phase 3 - redevelop the vacant Ben Franklin Elementary School site at 35th and Georgia with single and multifamily homes plus a senior or community center

Future phases, such as the redevelopment of Colonial Gardens 1 and 2, would build on the success of previous phases. These sites would be suitable for a mix of residential development including townhomes, duplexes, single-family homes and senior apartments.

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GEORGIA ST

swamp

PHASE 3: CREATE A PASSIVE STORMWATER PARK FOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION

33RD AVE

VERMONT ST

BROADWAY

d plain 100-year floo

34TH AVE

PHASE 1/2: RESIDENTIAL INFILL ALONG 35TH AVE BUS S ONLY

35TH AVE

KENTUCKY ST

RHODE ISLAND ST

INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

PHASE 3: REDEVELOP BEN FRANKLIN SITE WITH SINGLE AND MULTI-FAMILY HOMES & A SENIOR/COMMUNITY CENTER

IVY TECH

wetland

35TH AVE

BUS ONLY

PHASE 2: REPURPOSE COLONIAL GARDENS 2 AS A PASSIVE STORMWATER PARK

PHASE 1: COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT 35TH AVE & BROADWAY

FUTURE PHASE: INFILL HOUSING AT COLONIAL GARDENS 2

36TH AVE

TENNESSEE ST

VERMONT ST

GEORGIA ST

CAROLINA ST

VIRGINIA ST

MARYLAND ST

DELAWARE ST

PENNSYLVANIA ST

CONNECTICUT ST

MASSACHUSETTS ST

BROADWAY

FUTURE PHASE: INFILL HOUSING AT COLONIAL GARDENS 1 37TH AVE

PHASE 2: COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT RIDGE RD & BROADWAY

37TH AVE

RIDGE RD

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1/4 Mile

Source: Farr Associates, 2016

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEXT The Blueprint for Change has already resulted in tangible investments and positive change in UP-East. To formalize what various City departments have already been doing to implement the strategies outlined in the Blueprint, the City is pursuing the formal adoption of the plan as an amendment to the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Comprehensive Plan by the Common Council. Once adopted, the Blueprint for Change will serve as the guiding document for redevelopment of this community, and any future public and private investment must align and support the stated vision and outcomes.

To oversee the continued implementation of the Blueprint, the City of Gary, Legacy Foundation, and Gary Economic Development Corporation, with the assistance of a Program Manager, will continue to collaborate and meet on a regular basis to monitor neighborhood investment and activities. They will work with their current partners - Community HealthNet, Indiana University Northwest, Ivy Tech, and Gary Housing Authority - to carry out specific strategies, and recruit additional partners to support the transformation of the UP-East .

Attendees at the Community Celebration in January 2017 hearing about Blueprint next steps

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Rendering of corner of Broadway and 35th Avenue looking southwest

Rendering of Ben Franklin school site looking northwest

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University Park East is a thriving and vibrant community where families can raise their children and seniors can grow old, where students come to study and young professionals are a part of the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revival, where the streets are walkable and the business district is active, where residents feel safe and connected to their neighbors, and where everyone enjoys high quality amenities and can lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

1 INTRODUCTION

In January 2015, the City of Gary, Legacy Foundation, and Gary Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) were awarded a Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives (CNI) planning grant for the development of a comprehensive revitalization plan for the University Park-East (UP-East) neighborhood, including Colonial Gardens 1 and 2. Colonial Gardens 1 and 2 comprise 78-units of scattered-site public housing owned and managed by the Gary Housing Authority (GHA) located in the neighborhood. CNI is a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that supports the development of community-driven, results-oriented transformation plans for distressed neighborhoods. With a $500,000 CNI planning grant leveraged with additional public and private dollars and inkind resources, the City and its partners engaged in a two-year long planning effort to develop a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blueprint for Changeâ&#x20AC;? for UP-East. The Blueprint for Change includes strategies and action steps that will result in sustainable and meaningful investments in UP-East to help it become a vibrant and thriving community.

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The Blueprint is grounded in extensive resident input and feedback and guided by a deeply involved Steering Committee comprised of key community leaders and stakeholders. Starting with a comprehensive understanding of where the neighborhood is today, eight working groups identiﬁed priority challenges and needs and developed realistic strategies to address these issues using existing resources to the greatest extent possible. These strategies revolve around three overarching elements (themes) that reﬂect the community’s desires and build upon neighborhood assets and opportunities: •

•

Invest in Ourselves: Cultivate the Foundation for Individual and Family Success – focus on the individual and individual families Elevate Our Strengths: (Re)Build Our Community – focus on the residents and businesses that are the backbone of the neighborhood Prepare for Our Future: Invest Today for a Better Tomorrow – focus on how the community can achieve its full potential

Each element proposes a series of strategies to address key priorities, identiﬁes critical partners to bring the strategy to fruition, and establishes a timeframe for getting things done. Implementation of the plan requires that the City, its partners and residents be intentional and committed to achieve the vision for the community. Speciﬁc outputs and indicators will serve as a baseline for community progress and improvement.

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST – LOCATION AND CONTEXT The City of Gary, Indiana is located about 25 miles southeast of Chicago and 150 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Gary is the 8th largest city in Indiana with a population of 80,294 in 2010. Situated along the southern coast of Lake Michigan, the 57-square-mile city was shaped by the steel industry in the early 1900s, an identity that still endures today. The City is well connected to the Midwest via Interstates 80/94, 90, and 65; the South Shore Line commuter rail; the Gary/ Chicago International Airport; numerous freight lines; and shipping via Lake Michigan. UP-East is located in the southern portion of the City. The neighborhood is generally bounded by I-65 to the east, East Ridge Road/West 37th Avenue to the south, Broadway to the west, and I-80/94 to the north. UP-East was targeted by the City for the CNI effort because of its inherent assets and its untapped potential. Home to the only two institutions of higher education in Gary – Indiana University Northwest (IUN) and Ivy Tech Community College – on average over 10,000 people pass through UP-East on a daily basis to go to school or work. Further augmenting UP-East’s potential are the 24,000 to 29,000 vehicles that traverse up and down Broadway, the neighborhood’s primary commercial corridor, on a daily basis. The importance of UP-East to the City was demonstrated by the completion of two plans for the broader University Park neighborhood in 2003 and 2013 that sought to integrate neighborhood and campus planning efforts, facilitate development along key corridors, initiate a placemaking strategy, and focus on high impact projects.

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GLEN PARK & UNIVERSITY PARK

90 12 12

912

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST 80

UNIVERSITY PARK

GLEN PARK

City of Gary Source: City of Gary GIS Data, April 2015

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1 Mile

Today, IUN and Ivy Tech continue to expand and improve course offerings; a new Arts and Sciences Building is currently under construction by IUN on the corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway that will be jointly used by IUN and Ivy Tech; plans are underway to improve major corridors in the neighborhood; and the availability of vacant parcels provide a strong foundation that can serve as catalysts for future transformation. In the following chapters, the process and content of the Blueprint for Change are discussed in greater detail, as well as next steps for the community:

•

Chapter 2 – Community Process and Context – description of how the community was informed and involved throughout the planning process along with a summary of key ﬁndings

•

Chapters 3 – Blueprint Elements – for each, the strategies and activities to address priority needs and challenges, the partners essential to carry out the work and timeframe

•

Chapter 4 – Housing and Commercial Development Opportunities – informed by market conditions and realities, a phased approach to potential new residential and commercial development

•

Chapter 5 – Moving Forward – discussion of how the community will move forward collectively to carry out the strategies and activities identiﬁed, and how progress will be measured

Indiana University Northwest (top) and Ivy Tech Community College-Northwest (bottom) are the only two institutions of higher education in Gary and anchor the University Park East neighborhood.

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MARTIN LUTHER KING DR

GEORGIA ST

BROADWAY

CNI TARGET NEIGHBORHOOD: UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

E 32ND AV

33RD AV

E 34TH AV

TENNESSEE ST

KENTUCKY ST

INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

PENNSYLVANIA ST

CONNECTICUT ST

E 33RD AV

IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BEN FRANKLIN SCHOOL

NEW IUN BUILDING

GARY AREA CAREER CENTER

E 35TH AV

CAROLINA ST

E 35TH CT

E 35TH PL

E 37TH AV

E 36TH AV MISSISSIPPI ST

VERMONT ST

VIRGINIA ST

MARYLAND ST

MASSACHUSETTS ST

WASHINGTON ST

ADAMS ST

E 35TH CT

E 36TH PL E RIDGE RD

E RD

E RIDG

Anchor Institutions E 38TH AV

Source: City of Gary GIS Data, April 2015

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E 38TH AV

University Park East 1/4 Mile

Know where you are to know where you are going.

2 COMMUNITY PROCESS AND CONTEXT

Development of University Park East’s Blueprint for Change was informed ﬁrst and foremost by input from neighborhood residents at every stage of the process – from sharing their likes and concerns about the neighborhood today and their hopes for the future, to choosing their priorities for investment given limited resources. Over 500 residents and community stakeholders participated in public meetings, working groups, community conversations and surveys that shaped and guided the resulting goals and strategies to move UP-East toward a better and brighter tomorrow. In addition to community input, the work of the residents and stakeholders was supported by current assessments of where UP-East is today – physically, socially and economically – along with commercial and residential market studies to appraise what new investments could be possible in the short- and long-term. This information helped to anchor community discussions in on-theground realities, challenges and assets to develop a realistic Blueprint that serves as the road map for attaining UP-East’s preferred future. Overseeing the Blueprint’s evolution was a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from anchor and major institutions, City departments, service providers and neighborhood residents. Steering Committee members participated in the working groups, monitored the work of the Planning Team, and ensured that the Blueprint addressed the needs identiﬁed by the community as well as set the stage for what UP-East could become with strategic investments and interventions. This chapter provides an overview of the community process and the community context that is the foundation upon which the subsequent goals and strategies are based.

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18 JANUARY 2017

Working Group Meetings and Community Conversations

OCTOBER 2016

JULY 2016

APRIL 2016

Resident and Community Needs Assessments and Stakeholder Interviews Conducted

JANUARY 2016

CN I PL AN NIN GG RA NT

CO FIN MMU SU AL B NITY BM LU ITT EPR CELE ED INT BRA TO T F HU OR C ION D HA NG E

CO CO MMU MM NIT UN Y M ITY E DR OP ETIN A EN G # F SU HO 4: BM T BLU US ITT EP E ED RIN TO T F O HU D R CH AN

NIT Y DR OU AFT B TLI L NE UEPR SU BM INT F CO ITT OR M ED CH PRE MU TO AN FER NIT HU GE EN Y M D CE E S A ETIN ND G # PRI 2: OR CO ITIE M MA MU S DE RKET NITY VE LO CON MEE T PM EN DITIO ING # T O NS 3 PTI AN : ON D S

AW AR D

CO LET MMU ’S L NIT OO Y M K A EE T Y TIN OU G # R C 1: OM MU

Existing Physical and Social Conditions Analysis

OCTOBER 2015

JULY 2015

APRIL 2015

JANUARY 2015

BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE PLANNING TIMELINE

Blueprint Reﬁnement and Early Start Activities

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COMMUNITY AND RESIDENT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS Between June and October 2015, the City of Gary administered a survey to gather information from stakeholders who both live and do not live in the neighborhood. Administered both on-line and in-person, neighborhood residents were asked questions related to their feelings about and perceptions of the neighborhood, their engagement in the community and social network, needed neighborhood resources and services, quality of children’s education, health status and access, and service needs and utilization. Non-residents were asked a more limited set of questions that focused on recommended neighborhood improvements1. A total of 351 responses were collected, of which 185 were neighborhood residents for a 25% response rate. The remaining 166 surveys were completed by non-residents who came to UP-East to go to school, work, shop or use service providers.

EARLY ACTION GRANTS Through the Legacy Foundation, ﬁve $2,000 Early Action Grants were offered to non-proﬁt organizations for projects that brought out the best in the community and created a sense of ownership in place. The projects had to: • Have an immediate impact on the quality of life in the targeted area. • Engage a diverse representation of residents (youths, adults, elderly, disabled) from the targeted area. • Build collaboration among organizations and businesses in the targeted area. • Identify and build local leadership and capacity among residents. • Contribute to the overall Blueprint development for University Park East.

The complete University Park Existing Conditions Report including survey instrument and results can be found in Appendix A.

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LEARNING FROM OTHERS - CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE Throughout the planning process, residents, community leaders, elected ofﬁcials and City staff from Gary had the opportunity to visit other cities in the Midwest to see and learn ﬁrst-hand about the transformation efforts happening in their communities. +

Woodlawn Choice Neighborhoods - Chicago, IL - November 2015 - a 2010/11 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant recipient, tour attendees heard about the accomplishments of and challenges faced by the Woodlawn community as they carry out their housing, neighborhood, and people activities.

Small Business Incubator Tour - Chicago, IL - April 2016 - members of the Economic Development/Commercial Corridors working group visited the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago to learn about their business model and use of incubator best practices.

Menomonee Valley, Inner Harbor, 30th Street Industrial Corridor, and Near East Side - Milwaukee, WI - July 2016 - during this fact-finding trip, attendees learned about Milwaukee’s approaches to brownfield redevelopment, economic development planning, and community engagement, and the value of non-profit and civic engagement.

Woodlawn Tour

Business Incubator Tour

Milwaukee Tour

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To supplement the resident survey, 50 one-on-one interviews were conducted with key stakeholders including anchor institutions Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College; key service providers like Methodist Hospitals, Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Geminus Corporation, Northwest Indiana Community Action Corporation and the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana; various City departments including Planning, Redevelopment and Health; local faith-based organizations; and resident leaders. These discussions focused on perceived strengths and opportunities in UP-East and associated weaknesses and threats. Along with primary data collection, an extensive analysis of the existing physical and social conditions in UP-East, which included on-the-ground observations and review of thirdparty collected data, was performed to provide a baseline understanding of where the community is today. Topics examined included current socioeconomic demographics, circulation, land use and zoning, building conditions, employment patterns, existing community facilities and services, and health and wellness data, along with a review of previous planning efforts and reports.

EARLY ACTION GRANT FRESH MOBILE MARKET Grantee: Food Bank of Northwest Indiana The Food Bank of NWI hosted a University Park East Fresh Mobile Market where a refrigerated truck full of fresh food and a temporary market were set up in the Ivy Tech Community College parking lot. University Park East residents who needed food were invited to â&#x20AC;&#x153;shopâ&#x20AC;? for free. At the event, residents were provided information about the Choice Neighborhoods effort and encouraged to complete the resident survey. Volunteers were on hand to assist residents with completing the survey. A total of 108 University Park East families (385 individuals) participated in the Mobile Market, and 48 resident surveys were completed.

This information, combined with the survey results and stakeholder interviews, helped to determine the priority areas to be addressed in the Blueprint.

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SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS – DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND OUTLOOK

SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS – HOUSING TRENDS AND CONDITIONS

Between 2000 and 2010, UP-East saw a 31% decline in its population from 3,159 to 2,171. This rate of population loss was faster than the City during the same time period (22%). As of 2010, the majority of residents are black, and 35% of residents are age 19 or younger. There were 740 households in UP-East with an average household size of 2.93 persons. Of these households, 68% were families, over half of which are female-headed with no husband present (54%).

The majority of the UP-East housing stock is low-rise singlefamily detached homes with few apartment buildings and very few options for households who do not want a singlefamily home (e.g. single persons, small families, seniors).

Despite this population loss, residents were generally optimistic about the future outlook for the neighborhood – over 50% thought the neighborhood would get a lot or somewhat better over the next 5 years. Residents also felt a strong sense of community, with many working to improve their neighborhood, feeling that they knew their neighbors and their neighbors knew them, and that neighbors were willing to help each other. The primary sources of information about the neighborhood or City residents used were nontechnology based, i.e. word of mouth and the Gary Post Tribune, as opposed to the internet or Facebook.

The sizable population loss over the last decade has resulted in a signiﬁcant number of vacant and abandoned homes throughout UP-East. Of the 1,032 existing structures, 28% are vacant. Nearly a quarter of the existing homes are also in major disrepair (poor or dangerous condition), which includes both occupied and unoccupied homes. Compounding the challenge of addressing housing conditions is that of the 1,988 parcels in the neighborhood (including vacant lots), 413 (21%) are currently on the tax-sale list.

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

CITY OF GARY

LAKE COUNTY

2,171

80,294

496,005

POPULATION CHANGE 2000-2010

-31.3%

-21.9%

2.4%

RACE - BLACK

89.3%

84.8%

25.9%

MEDIAN AGE

31.3

36.7

37.4

54.3%

49.2%

25.7%

TOTAL POPULATION

FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS - FEMALE HEAD, NO HUSBAND PRESENT Source: 2010 U.S. Census

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E 32ND AV

33RD AV

E 34TH AV

TENNESSEE ST

KENTUCKY ST

PENNSYLVANIA ST

CONNECTICUT ST

E 33RD AV

MARTIN LUTHER KING DR

GEORGIA ST

BROADWAY

OCCUPIED AND VACANT STRUCTURES

E 35TH AV

28%

E 35TH PL

E 36TH AV

MISSISSIPPI ST

E 37TH AV

E 35TH CT

VERMONT ST

CAROLINA ST

VIRGINIA ST

MARYLAND ST

MASSACHUSETTS ST

WASHINGTON ST

ADAMS ST

E 35TH CT

E 36TH PL E RIDGE RD

VACANT vs 20% CITYWIDE Occupied Structure

E RD E RIDG

Vacant Structure E 38TH AV

Source: City of Gary GIS Data, April 2015

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No Structure Present E 38TH AV

1/4 Mile

BUILDING CONDITIONS

1,028 STRUCTURES

DANGEROUS

E 32ND AV

33RD AV

E 34TH AV

TENNESSEE ST

KENTUCKY ST

PENNSYLVANIA ST

CONNECTICUT ST

E 33RD AV

MARTIN LUTHER KING DR

GEORGIA ST

BROADWAY

24% POOR OR

E 35TH AV

CAROLINA ST

E 35TH CT

E 35TH PL

E 37TH AV

E 36TH AV

MISSISSIPPI ST

VERMONT ST

VIRGINIA ST

MARYLAND ST

MASSACHUSETTS ST

WASHINGTON ST

ADAMS ST

E 35TH CT

E 36TH PL E RIDGE RD

E RD

E RIDG

E 38TH AV

Source: City of Gary GIS Data, Garymaps.com, April 2015 26

Excellent

Good

248 (24%)

Fair

496 (48%)

Poor

177 (18%)

Dangerous

(4%)

64 (6%)

E 38TH AV

1/4 Mile

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The UP-East housing stock includes 78 units of scattered site public housing (Colonial Gardens #1 and #2) owned and managed by the Gary Housing Authority (GHA). Due to the severe physical distress of these units, in April 2015, GHA received approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish all 78 units. For UP-East residents, addressing vacant and abandoned homes was cited as the number one improvement needed in the community. Of the occupied units, slightly over half are owneroccupied (52%). Home values in UP-East are lower than the City ($50,567 vs. $65,400), while rents are slightly higher ($626 vs. $561). The higher rental rates are most likely attributable to the demand for rental housing in the area due to the presence of IUN and Ivy Tech.

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

CITY OF GARY

LAKE COUNTY

MEDIAN HOME VALUE

$50,567

$65,400

$136,600

MEDIAN GROSS RENT

$626

$561

$646

TOTAL HOUSING UNITS

1,032

39,531

208,750

Vacant Units

28.3%

20.6%

9.9%

Owner Occupied

51.5%

52.7%

69.3%

Renter Occupied

48.5%

47.3%

30.7%

Sources: 2009-2013 American Community Survey, 2010 U.S. Census

View of vacant homes at Colonial Gardens 2

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SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CIRCULATION: ASSET AND LIABILITY One of the primary assets of UP-East is the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent access to other parts of northwest Indiana including regional connectors such as Interstate 80/94 and Interstate 65, and numerous public bus routes in addition to new rapid bus service on Broadway set to begin in summer 2017. While well connected to the region, the quality of the transportation network within UP-East is low. Many areas have deteriorated or non-existent sidewalks, including along the 35th Avenue thoroughfare, there are no dedicated bicycle lanes or sharrows, and bus stops lack signage and shelter.

Over 20% of the sidewalks in University Park East are in poor condition.

No dedicated bike lanes or sharrows currently exist in University Park East.

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MARTIN LUTHER KING DR

GEORGIA ST

BROADWAY

SIDEWALK CONDITIONS

E 32ND AV

33RD AV

E 34TH AV

TENNESSEE ST

KENTUCKY ST

INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

PENNSYLVANIA ST

CONNECTICUT ST

E 33RD AV

IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

GARY AREA CAREER CENTER

E 35TH AV

CAROLINA ST

E 35TH CT

E 35TH PL

E 37TH AV

E 36TH AV MISSISSIPPI ST

VERMONT ST

VIRGINIA ST

MARYLAND ST

MASSACHUSETTS ST

WASHINGTON ST

ADAMS ST

E 35TH CT

E 36TH PL E RIDGE RD

Overgrown Sidewalk Sidewalk Present

E RD

E RIDG

No Sidewalk Present E 38TH AV

Source: Farr Associates, 2015

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Street Overgrown E 38TH AV

1/4 Mile

N 47

SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS – CRIME: PERCEPTION VS. REALITY Improved safety was identiﬁed as one of the top changes non-residents needed to consider moving to UP-East, and concerns about crime were strongly voiced during community meetings. In reality, the violent crime rate in UP-East has dropped dramatically over the last year and is currently half the city-wide rate (4.6 vs. 9.3 violent crimes per 1,000 persons). This decrease in violent crime has been attributed to the expansion of the IUN Police Department’s

jurisdiction to Georgia Street in UP-East, along with a regular police presence in the Ivy Tech parking lot during shift changeovers. However, the incidence of non-violent crime, i.e. property crime, is above the city’s average. A main concern voiced by residents during meetings was the lack of street lighting in certain parts of the neighborhood, which made those areas feel unsafe.

UNIVERSITY PARK EAST

CITY OF GARY

461

Violent Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents

4.15

5.74

Percent Change 2010-2015

-68%

-38%

142

3,463

Property Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents

65.41

43.13

Percent Change 2010-2015

-32%

-36%

PART I VIOLENT CRIMES Number of Violent Crimes

PART I PROPERTY CRIMES Number of Property Crimes

Source: Gary Police Department

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MARTIN LUTHER KING DR

GEORGIA ST

BROADWAY

STREET LIGHTS

E 32ND AV

33RD AV

E 34TH AV

TENNESSEE ST

KENTUCKY ST

INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

PENNSYLVANIA ST

CONNECTICUT ST

E 33RD AV

IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

GARY AREA CAREER CENTER

E 35TH AV

CAROLINA ST

E 35TH CT

E 35TH PL

E 37TH AV

E 36TH AV MISSISSIPPI ST

VERMONT ST

VIRGINIA ST

MARYLAND ST

MASSACHUSETTS ST

WASHINGTON ST

ADAMS ST

E 35TH CT

E 36TH PL E RIDGE RD

Street Light On

E RD

E RIDG

Street Light Out E 38TH AV

Source: Farr Associates, 2015

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No Data Available E 38TH AV

1/4 Mile

SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS – HEALTH: LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES Rates of chronic disease are high among UP-East residents, especially asthma, hypertension and diabetes. There are no grocery stores in the neighborhood; the closest one is over one-mile away and is accessible via bus. However, the closest bus stop for that route is on the western edge of the neighborhood at the corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway. The community is also medically underserved – there are no dentists or behavioral health providers in the 46409 zip code. Almost one in three UP-East residents do not have medical insurance. In addition, nearly 50% lack a medical home and go to a local hospital when in need of health advice or health care instead of a primary care doctor. Dental and eye care top the list as the two greatest unmet medical needs. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS – EMPLOYMENT: MISMATCH BETWEEN JOBS AND SKILLS Even though unemployment is high and the average median income is low, more households have income from wages than the City average. This suggests that when people are working, they are working in low-wage jobs. Low wages may be reﬂective of the low educational attainment among residents 25 and older – over 25% do not have a high school diploma or equivalent. Additionally, transition age youth are unprepared to enter the workforce upon graduation from high school due to a lack of job experience and basic employment skills.

SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS – YOUTH: UNDERSERVED AND AT RISK There is strong participation in center-based early learning programs by children under 5; however, the external support system appears to breaks down once children enter school. Only 59% of school-age youth participate in an out-of-school time program, and the only programming offered in UP-East is at Ivy Tech during the summer. Due to an extensive charter school network and the continued shrinkage of the public school system, students attend schools across the City, the majority of which are located at least a mile away. The Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana and the City’s Youth Services Bureau offer programming elsewhere in the City, but transportation to and from these out-of-school time programs is incredibly challenging due to the dispersion of students. With a young population and young parents, service providers are concerned about the family structure and children not getting what they need from their families and institutions are not supporting families. Wraparound and multi-generational programming and services are needed, including parenting skills and education and mentoring that includes the whole family.

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GARY SCHOOLS

90 12 12

912

City of Gary University Park East

SCHOOLS

Public Elementary

Public Secondary Charter 65

Early Childhood Center 3 MILES

2 MILES

1 MILE

Private 18 17 21

LOCAL ROUTES #6 (loop) - E 35th Ave/Marshalltown #19 (loop) - W 6th Ave Tolleston #21 (loop) - University Park REGIONAL ROUTES #17 - Broadway Express to 93rd Ave #18 - Broadway/61st Ave to Methodist Hosp

Source: http://www.garycsc.k12.in.us/schools, City of Gary GIS Data, April 2015

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1 Mile

N 75

BLUEPRINT DEVELOPMENT - WORKING GROUPS, COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS Using the findings from the community and resident needs assessment, the work to develop the Blueprint and its associated strategies was divided among eight working groups focused on different areas of concern. Each working group was chaired by thought leaders in each field from the Gary community. Other working group members included representatives from key organizations and City departments. Neighborhood residents were also invited to participate in the working groups based on their interests. Over the course of seven months between December 2015 and June 2016, each working group met from 4 to 10 times to discuss relevant data and findings, prioritize needs to be addressed, determine appropriate goals and strategies, and identify existing and potential partners. Two working groups hosted Community Conversations – public meetings on a specific topic – to inform their work (Public Safety and Parks).

Interwoven with the working groups were public meetings to solicit resident input and feedback on key plan elements. In total, four public meetings were held: •

October 2015 – “Let’s Look at Your Neighborhood” – Neighborhood Strengths/Challenges and University Park East – Now and in the Future

•

February 2016 – “Preferences and Priorities” – Preferences for New Housing and Amenities and Redevelopment Priorities

•

April 2016 – “Market Conditions and Development Options” – Preliminary Overview of the Housing Market and Feedback on Potential Development Programs

•

June 2016 – “Community Open House” – Review of Blueprint Elements and Money UP: How and Where to Spend a Finite Pot of Money

BLUEPRINT WORKING GROUPS • Economic Development/Commercial Corridors: Retail/commercial development and job creation. • Engagement and Leadership Development: Neighborhood leadership and empowering residents to be an active partner in improving the community. • Family Well-Being: Healthcare access, wellness education/programs, and family supports such as parenting skills, senior services, and ﬁnancial literacy • Housing: Existing and abandoned housing, vacant lots, and the need for new housing. • Neighborhood Services and Amenities: Transportation, infrastructure, parks, and public services. • Public Safety: Community and public-based initiatives to enhance safety in the community. • Workforce Development and Adult Education: Job readiness, skill development, employability, and GED programs. • Youth Development and Education: Early childhood, K-12, and youth programs. 32

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UNIVERSITY PARK EAST PLANNING STRUCTURE

City of Gary, Legacy Foundation, Gary Economic Development Corporation (Executive Team – CoͲCNI Grantees)

University ParkͲEast CNI Steering Committee

Engagement & Leadership Dev Workforce Dev & Adult Education

Youth Dev & Education

Economic Dev & Commercial Corridors

Public Safety

Housing

Neigh Services & Amenities

Working Groups

FINAL - January 16, 2017

University ParkͲ East’s Community Conversations

Community Meetings

Family WellͲ Being

Community Feedback

Blueprint for Change CNI Transformation Plan

SHAPING OF THE FINAL BLUEPRINT – INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN WORKING GROUPS After seven months of hard work by working group members, each group created an outline that listed the goals, strategies and outcomes they wanted to achieve in UP-East. Because the focus area of each working group does not exist in a silo, there were commonalities across the outlines produced. The outlines were reviewed for similarity, overlap and common ideas. Overall, three elements (themes) emerged under which individually-proposed strategies were aligned: • Invest in Ourselves: Cultivate the Foundation for Individual and Family Success • Elevate Our Strengths: (Re)Build Our Community • Prepare for Our Future: Invest Today for a Better Tomorrow Moving from the individual to the stakeholders to the neighborhood, each Blueprint element resonated deeply with residents – in sync with their needs and concerns, and inspirational with its positivity, belief and energy that things can and will improve in the community they call home.

KEEPING IN TOUCH In addition to mailed invitations and robocalls inviting residents to participate in meetings and a bi-monthly newsletter with updates and important information, a Facebook page and website were developed to reach a broader audience.

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NOW

NOW AND IN THE FUTURE At the ďŹ rst community meeting in October 2015, residents were asked write down a word or words to describe University Park East today and word or words they would like to use to describe the neighborhood 10 years from now.

FUTURE

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“LET’S LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD” At the ﬁrst community meeting in October 2015, over 110 residents participated in small group discussions. In these groups, residents shared what they thought the neighborhood’s strengths and challenges were and how they would describe the neighborhood today and how they would like to describe the neighborhood 10 years from now.

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From a focus on individuals and individual families to community-wide improvements, the Blueprint for Change encompasses the elements needed for University Park East to become a great place to live, play and work for current and future residents.

3 BLUEPRINT ELEMENTS

Invest in Ourselves: Cultivate the Foundation for Individual and Family Success

Elevate Our Strengths: (Re)Build Our Community

Prepare for Our Future: Invest Today for a Better Tomorrow

These three Blueprint Elements capture the heart and spirit of how the community envisions moving forward. Focusing on the individual components of the neighborhood while at the same time keeping an eye on the future, this is how University Park East will be able to achieve its full potential as a hub for education, health, shopping and community. SpeciďŹ c physical redevelopment opportunities associated with housing and commercial development and timing are discussed in detail in Chapter 4 - Housing and Commercial Development Options. On the following pages, each of the Blueprint Elements is discussed, including speciďŹ c strategies followed by key partners and timeframe for action.

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INVEST IN OURSELVES: CULTIVATE THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUCCESS By any number of measures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; household income, unemployment rate, high school graduation rate, rate of chronic disease - UP-East residents are at a disadvantage compared to other northwest Indiana communities. Yet residents are resilient and resourceful and continue to strive to improve prospects for themselves and their children. Strategic investments in education, health, and workforce programming by the City, anchor institutions and program partners are critical in supporting UP-East residents in achieving their hopes and dreams. Based on existing services and programs and identiďŹ ed needs, support to improve individual and family outcomes are organized into four approaches: + + + +

When we take care of ourselves, our possibilities become limitless.

Prioritize the development of our youth Connect residents to services that foster well-being Prepare for the workforce Establish an information network to share resources and promote engagement

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TO INVEST IN OURSELVES... PRIORITIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTH All children need access to a continuum of high quality education programs and services specifically tailored to help them successfully prepare for college and career. These individual and family supports must start before birth to ensure children are off to a healthy start and achieve developmental milestones during the first three years of life when critical brain development occurs. These supports must continue as children grow from infants to teens and then to adults and progress through a series of developmental stages that impact their physical, intellectual, emotional and social well-being. EDUCATE PARENTS THROUGH THE AGES A parent plays a critical role in their child’s development as their first teacher. In this role, they not only provide encouragement and support but they also expose a child to age appropriate challenges to encourage development and to experiences that allow a child to explore on their own and learn from interacting with their environment from birth to adulthood. +

Design and deliver a program for parents of young children to support them in their role as their child’s first teacher. Parents need knowledge, tools and support to maximize their effectiveness in this role and help them to model positive behavior, ensure their child gets a healthy start in life, support language and literacy development, and prepare their child for preschool and kindergarten. Such programming should include a parent/child reading program in UP-East designed to promote socialization and pre-literacy skill development.

Educate parents about post-secondary options and resources to support a successful transition. It is important that parents understand high school graduation requirements and help their children prepare appropriately for graduation and beyond. This includes an understanding of post-secondary options including college and/or trade school and being able to navigate the admissions and ﬁnancial aid processes.

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Organize forums to talk with UP-East parents about family support needs and work together to address those needs. Additional supports to further assist parents, particularly those with elementary and middle school children, may include help navigating the local school system, understanding available resources based upon their child’s stage of development, effectively communicating and getting involved with the school, reinforcing positive behavior and social skills among other things.

EXPAND EARLY LEARNING ENROLLMENT, QUALITY AND OPPORTUNITIES Research has shown that providing children with a well-designed preschool education makes a difference in kindergarten readiness and their future success in school and life. Without access to these programs, low-income children often start behind and stay behind their more afﬂuent peers. While many UP-East parents are taking advantage of available programs in and near the neighborhood, further expanding enrollment in and increasing the quality of local programs is critical to ensuring UP-East children have the best opportunity for a bright future.

Market Head Start/Early Learning programs directly to UP-East families to increase enrollment. St. Mark Head Start program is just west of the neighborhood on Jackson Street and in close proximity. Partners will market this program and other Head Start/Early learning programs.

Assist families in navigating early care and education systems. Understanding what services are available, learning about each program’s eligibility requirements and successfully enrolling in services that best meet a family’s speciﬁc needs can be challenging. So it is important to provide support and guidance to UP-East parents and families in this process.

Establish/strengthen home visiting services for pregnant women and new mothers of children up to 3 years old to assess development needs and provide tailored supports to each family. Home visiting is an effective, evidence-based strategy for improving outcomes for children through parental support and early intervention. In the short term, such programs can lead to better parenting, better developmental experiences for children and enhanced child safety. Long term, outcomes for children can include better school retention and employment, less child abuse, less youth offending and enhanced social and emotional health.

Encourage early education and care providers in and around UP-East to adopt and/or align with Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework. This includes working with providers to ensure readiness goals are appropriate for infants, toddlers and preschoolers across all domains including physical, social and emotional, language and literacy, cognitive and general knowledge.

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MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE This starts with quality academic instruction but must also extend to services and supports outside of the classroom. Quality out of school programming and other supports, particularly those targeting at-risk youth, are critical to addressing disparities and ensuring the success of every UP-East child. +

Ensure UP-East youth are reading by 3rd grade. Employ standardized reading and other assessment tools across out of school programs to identify students performing below grade level and then administer reading remediation programs. Provide quality out-of-school time supports for academic achievement and positive youth development. This includes: partnering with afterschool, community, faith-based and mentoring programs to increase enrollment of UP-East students; offering tutoring programs that correlate with in-school curriculum; supporting in-school systems that provide early warning of students at-risk of academic failure and dropout and appropriate support to get back on track; and offering programs that develop student independence, decision-making and self-conﬁdence.

Prepare youth for college and career. This includes introducing ﬁnancial literacy training; sponsoring college fairs/tours; and offering services to assist students with college and ﬁnancial aid applications.

Identify families with children not enrolled in school. According to the resident survey, 7% of UPEast households indicated that they have a school aged child that is not currently enrolled in school. It is imperative to identify these households and provide the necessary supports to re-engage students and assist them in successfully completing high school.

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EARLY ACTION GRANT IMAGINE UPE Grantee: ARISE Gary With a mission to transform, reconnect and activate Gary youth, through IMAGINE UPE, ARISE engaged youths and seniors from the community in reflecting on the history of the neighborhood and re-imagining its future as a part of the Blueprint planning process. Using the theme of “Gary Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” two Open Mic performances were held at New Tech High School located at the Gary Area Career Center, and neighborhood seniors ages 70 to 92 were filmed for an Oral History project. The culmination of these events is the creation of a mural by the youth that is being facilitated by a professional artist. The mural will chart the history of the area, current stories, and dreams of a vibrant, thriving future for UP-East, leaving a legacy for all to see. ARISE is currently working with partners to identify a location for the mural so the work can begin. The entire process was captured by a youth videographer for a short film. The video can be viewed using the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9kqao_ PZOdFV2NjNlB1OXd2RjA/view

TO INVEST IN OURSELVES... CONNECT RESIDENTS TO SERVICES THAT FOSTER WELL-BEING Residents of UP-East are more likely to experience poorer health overall than the general population. In addition, nearly three in four residents have a household member that suffers from a chronic health issue, the most common of which include asthma, hypertension and diabetes. Exacerbating this issue, nearly one in three UP-East residents does not have health insurance and nearly half stated that they most often go to one of the local hospitals when in need of health advice rather than a primary care doctor. IMPROVE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES The UP-East neighborhood is medically underserved. Yet a number of important resources are currently available in and near UP-East such as Marram Health Center, Oak Street Health Center and Community HealthNet. Therefore, it is critical to connect residents with these existing resources and to expand quality health care services, where possible. +

Organize a mobile health fair in UP-East. Arrange for Community HealthNet to host regular health screenings and behavioral assessments, exams and immunizations as well as assistance with health insurance enrollments in the neighborhood. Collaborate with other partners to offer healthy cooking demonstrations and food giveaways for additional health education as well as incentives to boost participation.

Facilitate direct connections between primary care providers located in UP-East and residents. One proposed way to do so is to set up an event in a speed dating format to enable residents and providers to interface directly and complete enrollments when a good match is identiﬁed.

Develop a comprehensive healthcare facility in UPEast. The ﬁrst step is to conduct a feasibility study in partnership with IUN. Ideally, the facility would provide primary and urgent care and offer transportation to residents.

“Quality of life begins with good health.” - Rocco Shiralli, President/CEO, Marram Health Center

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SUPPORT RESIDENTS WITH PROGRAMS, RESOURCES AND AMENITIES TO LEAD A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE Beyond greater access to quality medical services, UP-East residents need greater access to supports that will promote overall well-being. +

Help residents to navigate the food desert and eat healthier. Healthy eating is a critical element to addressing many chronic health conditions, but in a food desert, accessing quality fruits and vegetables at a reasonable price is a challenge. So it is critical to not only disseminate nutrition information, but also acknowledge the challenges residents face and help them develop strategies to cope such as sponsoring a Healthy Food Challenge to demonstrate how to prepare a healthy meal using ingredients from a local dollar store.

Connect residents to preventative health/wellness programs. Health and wellness programs designed to prevent chronic health issues are important to stem the high rates of asthma, diabetes and hypertension in the UP-East neighborhood. This includes connecting residents to ďŹ tness programs for all ages and abilities that promote increased physical activity.

Assist residents in preventing and managing chronic disease. Given the high rates of asthma, diabetes, and hypertension in the community, it is important to disseminate information and, where possible, connect residents to programs designed to support them in managing their particular condition.

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MARRAM HEALTH CENTER Marram Health Center, a Federally QualiďŹ ed Health Center, opened its doors on Broadway in UP-East in December 2015. Operated by Porter-Starke Services, Marram Health aims to provide preventative, primary and integrated care to medically underserved populations. Offering services ranging from pediatric care to adult medical services, Marram Health provides comprehensive primary and preventative care.

TO INVEST IN OURSELVES... PREPARE FOR THE WORKFORCE In light of high unemployment and a low average median income in UP-East, coordinated and targeted workforce development programs and supports are important to help more residents elevate their economic standing and to ensure that transition age youth are on a path to success in the workplace.

GROWTH INDUSTRIES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA According to WorkOne, the top ﬁve growth industries in the region are:

• • • • •

Advanced Manufacturing Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Healthcare and Social Support Professional Services Hospitality, Entertainment, Recreation, and Tourism

University Park East

Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College are major employers in the area. Other major employment areas located north of UP-East off of Broadway and include U.S. Steel/Gary Works, Methodist Hospitals, and the City of Gary.

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SUPPORT ADULTS IN BUILDING THE SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE While technical skills are important, soft skills such as work ethic, attitude, communication skills, and emotional intelligence are crucial for career success. An array of training and supports will help UP-East residents successfully enter the workforce and progress along a career pathway. Ensure residents understand employer expectations and have the soft skills required for successful employment. This includes maximizing use of existing programs like Images of Hope’s computer training and job readiness.

SKILLS BUILDING INSTITUTE (SBI)

Provide mentoring and support networks. Having the guidance, encouragement and support of a trusted and experienced mentor or other support network can provide a broad range of personal and professional beneﬁts, which ultimately lead to improved performance in the workplace.

A collaboration between Indiana University Northwest School of Business and Economics, the Center of Workforce Innovations and WorkOne Northwest Indiana, SBI offers long-term unemployed professionals a 12-week program to help them get back into the workforce.

Engage UP-East residents in the Skills Building Institute at WorkOne. A collaboration with the IUN School of Business and Economics, the Center for Workforce Innovations and WorkOne Northwest Indiana, the Skill Building Institute offers a twelveweek program that aims to get long term unemployed professionals back into the workforce via paid internships with local employers.

Connect disabled residents with Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Given the high rate of disability in UP-East and the number of individuals who said disability/health issues impede their ability to ﬁnd and keep work, Vocational Rehabilitation Services provides critical assistance helping individuals with physical, psychiatric and/or learning disabilities face the challenges of the modern workplace.

Participants, who have college degrees but haven been unemployed six months or more, are given paid internships with local employers, and have access to WorkOne career advisers and workshops that hone their leadership, teamwork, interviewing and conﬂict management skills. They also beneﬁt from a soft skills assessment to identify areas for improvement and coaching on how to present themselves to prospective employers. Ultimately, the program and internship are designed to position the participant to address the dreaded interview question: “So why have you been out of work for so long?”

FINAL - January 16, 2017

ENGAGE EMPLOYERS IN TRAINING DEVELOPMENT Employer-based training programs can be mutually beneﬁcial for businesses and trainees alike. These programs make employee skill upgrades available to businesses to avert layoffs, remain current in new technologies and business practices, or to provide job skills to new hires. At the same time, they create employment opportunities for individuals needing additional job training, while giving them the opportunity to learn the skills associated with a speciﬁc job. +

Create work-based learning opportunities and internships. This includes offering apprenticeships and stipends as well as tapping into subsidized employment/training programs. Such programs enable qualiﬁed employers to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement for providing on-the-job skills training while participants gain marketable skills to obtain longterm employment. One such program worth expanding is the Jobs After Graduation program that serves 18-24 year olds. Align existing training programs to address employer needs. Through analysis of labor market needs and local employer challenges, proactive decisions about how to target workforce programs can be made including what trainings to offer, which occupations or sectors to target, what skills people need, and how to design the programs. This could include addressing technology shifts in fast food/low end wage industries. Prepare youth to successfully transition from school to work. Participating in job exploration opportunities, work-based learning experiences, and workplace readiness training helps to maximize youth success. In particular, partners will seek to establish a summer youth employment program for 14-18 year olds as a critical ﬁrst step in the transition process.

JOBS FOR AMERICA’S GRADUATES (JAG) JAG is a state-based national, nonproﬁt corporation created to assist States with creating dropout prevention, recovery and school-to-career transition programs. With support from the Department of Workforce Development, the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board implements the local JAG program. Among its offerings, the Out-of-School program is designed to serve youth ages 16-24 who have left the traditional school system but are interested in completing the requirements for high school diploma. Trained Specialists provide counseling and classroom instruction in six key areas: Career Development, Job Attainment, Job Survival, Basic Skills, Leadership and Self Development, Personal Skills Competencies. In addition, participants are eligible for a paid training curriculum beyond high school at adult training education sites, including Ivy Tech and Gary Area Career Center, for up to $5,500. Program options include Certiﬁed Nursing Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, and Welding.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

TO INVEST IN OURSELVES... ESTABLISH AN INFORMATION NETWORK TO SHARE RESOURCES AND PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT While there are a host of services, resources, and programs available in and around UP-East, knowledge of and utilization by residents is limited. When asked why they do not access the services that they need, more than one in four UP-East residents said they do not know about the services that are available. The challenge of staying abreast of ever changing programs and services was also raised repeatedly by service providers. CREATE AND MAINTAIN RESOURCE INVENTORIES SO RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO CRITICAL INFORMATION While 211 provides a critical service to connect residents to a myriad of programs statewide, additional methods to effectively disseminate information to UP-East residents are needed. This information could be provided via resource packets given to neighborhood leaders and updated at least semi-annually. Some information to be included in the packet are: + + + +

An updated database of housing assistance programs available to homeowners in Indiana. Inventory of workforce development programs, services and grant opportunities. Comprehensive listing of healthcare resources available in and around UP-East. Ways in which residents can safeguard their homes and their valuables, and other public safety measures.

The 211 website and service maintained by Northwest Indiana Community Action is an important resources for programs available to residents based upon zip code.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

INCREASE UTILIZATION OF PRINT AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO DELIVER INFORMATION AND SHARE RESOURCES These tried and true methods for communicating with the community should be strategically deployed to maximize engagement. +

Continue to utilize UP-East Newsletter to share information. This tool proved to be very helpful in keeping residents and other stakeholders abreast of the CNI planning process. As the City moves from planning to implementation, it can be redirected to deliver critical information including the promotion of existing programs and resources to UP-East. Over time, it might also be possible to transition into a more extensive neighborhood newspaper.

Continue to utilize web-based media via CNI Facebook page and the CNI website to communicate with residents. Although only 25% of neighborhood residents said they use the internet and Facebook to get information about the neighborhood, these tools are much more popular sources of information for other stakeholders. And, over time, trafﬁc on the Facebook page has grown signiﬁcantly.

Utilize local access TV and the city’s newsletter to promote existing programs and resources. Many residents and non-residents indicate that they use these resources to get information about UP-East. So, if used strategically, they could be good resources to engage residents in local programs and services. During the planning process, a bi-monthly University Park East newsletter was distributed to keep residents informed and share important information.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

WORK COLLECTIVELY TO STRENGTHEN NETWORKS AND CREATE ADDITIONAL VENUES FOR INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION It is important to adopt a multi-pronged approach to ensure information and opportunities are effectively communicated to the diverse population that makes up UP-East. A successful engagement approach will require collaboration from a myriad of partners working in concert to build connections with one another as well as the UP-East resident community. In addition to traditional media outlets, additional outreach and engagement strategies should include: +

Set-up information tables at local businesses. These tables could provide a convenient way for residents to get public safety information and receive pertinent community updates (much like an informal tip-line) while also providing a way to casually interact with residents. Information to be disseminated could include summer safety tips, neighborhood watch info, and criminal activity reports in addition to supportive service programming.

Establish a UP-East resident resources center in partnership with IUN. Given the transportation challenges many residents face, a resource and referral center located in the community would provide a readily accessible, single point of contact for residents to learn about and get connected to the available programs in and near the neighborhood. It would also provide an excellent venue for residents to come together and engage one another in community building activities.

Maximize utilization of local community partner newsletters and forums to conduct outreach. Many local providers offer their own websites, newsletters and other venues for sharing information with their constituents that could offer new outlets to share information about UP-East and/or reach UP-East residents.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Implement web-based vehicle for making inventory available to partners in real time. Given the ever evolving supportive service landscape, local service providers noted that even they have difďŹ culty keeping abreast of current programs and services. A web-based tool offers the opportunity to centralize information from a myriad of providers and agencies in and around UP-East via a single web page, making it easier for user to ďŹ nd information and connect to programs and services online.

Explore cooperative branding opportunities among workforce partners. As part of an effort to work more collaboratively to engage residents in mutually reinforcing programs and services, cooperative branding could be more effective in reaching a larger audience than traditional, single-provider outreach.

Tap into local word-of-mouth to get information about programs and resources to residents. Nearly two in three residents get information directly from talking with friends and family. So it is imperative to look for creative ways to harness word-of-mouth to get more information about UP-East programs and activities to residents.

INVEST IN OURSELVES - KEY PARTNERS AND TIMEFRAMES STRATEGIES

Youth

Organize forums to talk with UP-East parents about family support needs and work together to address those needs Market Head Start/Early Learning programs directly to UP-East families Assist families in navigating early care and education systems Provide quality out-of-school time supports for academic achievement and positive youth development

Geminus Indiana Parenting Institute Boys & Girls Club, City Life Center, ARISE Gary, GCSC, YWCA, IUN, Ivy Tech, Purdue NW

Health

Indiana Parenting Institute, GCSC, City Life Center

Organize regular health screenings and behavioral assessments, exams and immunizations, and health insurance enrollment events in UP-East

Community HealthNet

Assist residents in preventing and managing chronic disease

Community HealthNet

Ensure residents understand employer expectations and have the soft skills required for successful employment Engage UP-East residents in the Skills Building Institute at WorkOne Connect disabled residents with Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Engagement

Create and maintain a resource packet critical information that includes housing assistance programs available; inventory of workforce development programs; comprehensive listing of healthcare resources available; and ways residents can safeguard their homes and valuables

WorkOne, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Images of Hope WorkOne Vocational Rehabilitation Services Community Development, WorkOne, Ivy Tech, IUN, GEDC, Calumet Township Trustee, Gary Health Department, Gary Police Department

Continue to utilize UP-East Newsletter to share information Continue to utilize web-based media via UP-East Facebook page and website to communicate with residents

City of Gary

Utilize local access TV and the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newsletter to promote existing programs and resources. Use local community partner newsletters and forums to conduct outreach. Tap into local word-of-mouth to get information about programs and resources to residents.

Indiana Parenting Institute

Workforce

DO NOW

Identify families with children not enrolled in school

KEY PARTNERS

Local organizations Block Clubs

FINAL - January 16, 2017

STRATEGIES Design and deliver a program for parents of young children to support them in their role as their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst teacher

Youth

Educate parents about post-secondary options and resources to support a successful transition

Encourage early education and care providers in and around UP-East to adopt and/or align with Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework

Geminus

Health

Facilitate direct connections between primary care providers and residents

Workforce Engagement

Gary Literacy Coalition, Indiana Parenting Institute 21st Century Scholarship, Urban League, Legacy Foundation, United Negro College Fund, JAG Community HealthNet, Marram Health, Oak Street

Help residents to navigate the food desert and eat healthier

Community HealthNet, NWI Food Bank

Connect residents to preventative health/wellness programs

Community HealthNet, Gary YWCA, Hudson Campbell Fitness Center

Prepare youth to successfully transition from school to work

Health

Boys and Girls Club Geminus

Prepare youth for college and career DO SOON

Geminus, Woodland Child Development Center, Indiana Parenting Institute

Establish/strengthen home visiting services for pregnant women and children up to three years-old to assess development needs and provide tailored supports to each family

Ensure UP-East youth are reading by 3rd grade

START NOW

KEY PARTNERS

Provide mentoring and support networks Create work-based learning opportunities and internships Align existing training programs to address employer needs Set-up information tables at local businesses Establish a UP-East resident resource center in partnership with IUN Implement web-based vehicle for making inventory information available to partners in real time

WorkOne WorkOne, JAG, Images of Hope WorkOne, Gary Area Career Center, Ivy Tech, JAG, Images of Hope Block Clubs City of Gary, IUN, Legacy Foundation Ivy Tech

Explore cooperative branding opportunities among workforce partners

WorkOne, Ivy Tech

Develop a comprehensive healthcare facility in UP-East

Methodist Hospitals

FINAL - January 16, 2017

ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS: (RE)BUILD OUR COMMUNITY The rise and fall of the City of Gary happened within the span of the 20th Century, and many residents remember what the City was like during its heyday in the 1950s and 60s. They also saw the City go into decline. Regardless of the fortunes of the City, for many, Gary is still home. While children have grown up and left to pursue schooling and work opportunities, several, like Mayor Karen FreemanWilson, have returned back to Gary to work on its rebirth in the 21st Century.

People are Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest asset.

There is a strong sense of community in Gary, and UP-East residents are no exception to this. Over half of the residents responding to the survey have lived in Gary for over 10 years, and of those residents, nearly two-thirds have lived here more than 20 years. For many of these long-time residents, they were born and/or grew up in UP-East and are vested in seeing the neighborhood regain the vibrancy, spirit and sense of community it once had.

Senior residents from University Park East participating in the IMAGINE UPE oral history project.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

TO ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS... INSPIRE RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT AND COLLABORATION Strong block clubs can be a mainstay in making positive change happen in urban communities because it unites residents for a common cause – betterment of the neighborhood where one lives, works, and raises a family. Once ubiquitous across UP-East, block clubs disappeared as the population fell and feelings of disenfranchisement and lack of empowerment grew as the City grappled with increasing social, economic, and ﬁnancial challenges. Residents still feel positive about the strength of the social network in UP-East. Over 60% of survey respondents believe that their neighbors are willing to help each other and over 50% believe that their neighbors are working to make UP-East a better place. +

Strengthen and build block clubs on each block in UP-East with officers and a regular meeting schedule. Strong interest exists in reviving block clubs as a vehicle for building community, neighborhood leaders, and an effective stabilization tool to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood. Host an annual volunteer fair to bring volunteers together with volunteer opportunities and potential recipients together with providers. Neighborhood clean-up days, like the Earth Day event organized by Ivy Tech, bring out many people including neighborhood and non-neighborhood volunteers. Regular volunteer fairs will provide the opportunity for those seeking to make a difference to connect with those needing assistance in a proactive manner.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

EARLY ACTION GRANT COMMUNITY BLOCK CLUBS Grantee: Urban League of Northwest Indiana With assistance from the Urban League, ﬁve block clubs will be mobilized/formed in University Park East to help neighbors become better involved and engaged in their community. The Urban League is helping with identifying, advertising, and mobilizing these groups. Signs and ﬂyers were created and distributed to spread the work of the Block Clubs. The Community Block Clubs will hold meetings to identify the top needs and actions of the Community Block Clubs.

TO ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS... ENSURE A QUALITY RENTAL HOUSING STOCK According to the 2010 Census, there are 359 rental units in UP-East. Yet only 112 of those units are registered with the City’s Rental Registration program that has been in effect since 2012. With 24% of structures in poor or dangerous condition in UPEast, it is likely that some of the substandard homes are illegal rental units not registered with the City. Additionally, in some instances, the owner of a rental property may have become a “default landlord” when a family member passed away and left a property to them. With low home values, the ability to secure ﬁnancing to improve a default rental property can be extremely challenging. Improving rental housing also entails empowering residents to know what acceptable housing conditions are and what constitutes a good lease. +

Utilize the City’s Rental Registration program to monitor and enforce quality rental housing standards. • Increase capacity of Rental Registration program via higher fees (registration, non-compliance, late fee for code violation correction). • Modify current program to be more proactive by instituting bi-annual inspections, and eliminate the ability for professionally managed properties to selfinspect • Sign an agreement with Lake County Tax Assessor to share homestead information on an annual basis and cross reference known rental units • Align GHA’s HCV program with its Rental Registration program; ensure that all HCV-leased units are registered with the City, and during HQS inspections also review the unit for code violations • Explore the potential for streamlining inspection functions in the City; move oversight of code enforcement functions from the police department to the building department

Host semi-annual tenant rights workshops. Educate attendees on Fair Housing, leases, eviction, deposits, and repairs, how to report complaints, and what to look for when renting a unit (physical conditions).

Reinstitute the City’s Rental Rehabilitation Program. While not currently operational, the Community Development Department will modify the parameters of the former rental rehabilitation loan program to be more effective and determine how many resources can be committed to supporting the program.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

CITY OF GARY RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAM In December 2012, the City of Gary initiated the Rental Registration Program to provide for the registration and inspection of residential rental housing units with the goals of protecting residents from sub-standard housing, improve neighborhood aesthetics and stability, prevent unsafe living conditions, correct poor housing conditions, and enforce minimum standards of maintenance. The Rental Registration Program is operated by the Building Department at the City. All owners of rental units must register their property with the City, with registrations renewed annually. Each rental unit is subject to inspection by the City. However, rental units are only inspected if a credible complaint is received. Current Fee Schedule:

• • • • •

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Initial registration fee - $5.00 per rental unit Annual renewal fee - $5.00 per unit Failure to register or late registration - $175.00 Initial inspection with identiﬁed code violations - $75.00 Failure to ameliorate identiﬁed code violations - $250.00 and up

TO ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS... ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF EXISTING HOMEOWNERS AND GROW FUTURE HOMEOWNERS Homeowners are the backbone of the community and the most vested in seeing the neighborhood improve. In UP-East, homeowners are more likely to be long-term residents and elderly. With physical and ﬁnancial limitations given low housing values and a rapidly aging housing stock, homeowners need support for essential home repairs. Unfortunately, demand for the existing homeowner repair programs operated by the City far exceeds available resources. Nonetheless, with proximity to employment opportunities at IUN and Ivy Tech and excellent access to highways and major transportation corridors, UP-East has strong assets upon which to grow its homeowner base.

Establish a summer program to connect seniors to church youth groups and volunteer organizations for help with home maintenance or other household tasks. Connecting seniors with youths in a positive manner is a win-win situation – it creates opportunities to build connections and empathy between these two groups; it can provide youths with a sense of accomplishment and value by helping someone; and it offers seniors an opportunity to share what they know and have seen while getting much needed assistance at the same time.

Create workshop for existing homeowners to encompass relevant issues and connect them to assistance programs as needed. Some homeowners may be extremely knowledgeable about how to maintain their home while others are less prepared. Workshops that cover basic home maintenance, the City’s regulations regarding housing upkeep, and where to go or call for assistance for various concerns may help to prevent a little problem from becoming a major problem.

Restructure the City’s housing assistance programs to maximize impact of available funding and assist more homeowners. With demand for home repair programs outstripping supply of funding, the City is reconsidering how current programs are structured, and exploring how they can do more with available resources. Activities currently under consideration include: • Create a housing façade improvement program • Create a low interest loan pool for housing rehabilitation • Modify existing home repair programs

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Develop partnerships with financial institutions to bring additional resources to homeowners in UP-East for property upkeep and mortgage reductions where applicable. To expand the pool of resources available to homeowners, the City is talking with financial institutions about different homeowner programs implemented in other cities similar to Gary (i.e. low home values coupled with homeowners with limited financial capacity). • Create modified loan-to-value program using FHLB model • Partner with financial institutions to create a matching program for UP-East homeowners that participate in City housing assistance programs

Extend Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) program to UP-East. The City is preparing to launch an EAH program in partnership with major employers like Methodist Hospitals, which will target speciﬁc areas of the City. The City will consult with the participating employers about including UP-East as one of the target areas.

Institute Dollar Home Program in UP-East. The City successfully implemented the Dollar Home Program in UP-West in 2013 and will seek to expand the program to UP-East. Under the Dollar Home Program, Citypurchased tax-sale properties are sold to qualiﬁed homebuyers for $1 in exchange for bringing the home up to code within 6 months and living in the property for 5 years at which point they assume full ownership.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Host one homebuyer workshop annually that features current UP-East homeowners as panelists for the session. The best sales people for a community are the ones who already live there and can convey the pluses and minuses as well as the challenges of being a homeowner. As part of the homebuyer workshops held by the City, UP-East homeowners will share their knowledge about homeownership and the neighborhood with workshop attendees in an attempt to increase interest in purchasing a home in the neighborhood.

TO ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS... FOSTER STRONGER POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS The Gary Police Department (GPD) and IUN Police Department jointly patrol UP-East. Since IUN extended their police department’s jurisdiction to Georgia Street, the incidence of violent crime has decreased signiﬁcantly in the neighborhood. However, police response could be improved as slightly less than half of residents rated it as very good or good. GPD has an active community policing division that is well regarded, and under the leadership of the current Chief, continues to seek ways to better serve the community. +

Pursue additional opportunities for positive interactions between police officers and residents. The GPD Community Policing Division and IUN-Police Department collaboratively or separately are currently engaged in activities and events to promote trust and break down the barriers between residents and police officers. To further build the relationship, the departments will engage in the following: • Increase bicycle and foot patrols to make police more visible and accessible to residents • Reestablish annual Bicycle Rodeo held on 1st Saturday following end of school year • Expand existing “Coffee with a Cop” program to more locations in UP-East • Hold community conversations to develop a formal public safety-resident agreement to promote resident engagement • Bring the Department of Justice’s National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice to UP-East to decrease/eliminate code of silence - police officers interact with young men without them knowing they are police officers – currently being piloted at Bethel City Life Center in Gary • Explore having officers in uniform distribute refreshments from an ice cream truck similar to that done by the Camden Police Department in New Jersey to teach kids not to run away

Engage residents and businesses to work with police to augment public safety. With ﬁnite resources, deterring crime must be a joint effort between the police and the community. Creating avenues where the community can support the work of the police in keeping the neighborhood safe both empowers residents and business owners and facilitates a sense of partnership. • Work to link local business security systems video feeds to GPD • Revive front yard lights program in partnership with NIPSCO

Existing front yard light installed at a University Park East home via previous City program.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

TO ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS... SUPPORT EXISTING BUSINESSES Broadway serves as the commercial backbone of the City, with Ridge Road playing the role of a strong secondary corridor. While only 12% of residents in the survey selected shopping and retail options as one of the things they liked most about UPEast, nearly 30% of the non-residents stated that they came to the neighborhood to shop. As of June 2015, 44 businesses were located in UP-East. +

Ensure existing businesses are maximizing their sales potential. • Meet with all existing business owners in UP-East to understand their current needs and their ability to compete in a more competitive environment • Connect owners interested in expansion with appropriate training and available ﬁnancial programs • Educate and register owners interested in contracting opportunities with the federal government (HUD Section 3, SBA HUBZone)

EARLY ACTION GRANT - WINDOW SIGN CONTEST Grantee: Neighborhoods Inc. Neighborhoods Inc is coordinating a Window Sign Contest in University Park East. For residents who enter the contest, the goal is to get as many neighbors as they can to place a Choice Neighborhood/Neighborhood Watch sign in their front window. The goals of the program are three-fold: • Residents will feel safer because they know their neighbors will call the police if they see suspicious activity • Contestants will meet and get to know many more neighbors when asking them to install a window sign • Criminal elements will think twice before causing programs in a neighborhood where residents watch out for one another Prizes will be awarded for the residents who get their neighbors to put up the most signs when the contest concludes at the end of July 2016.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS - KEY PARTNERS AND TIMEFRAMES

Homeowners Safety

Work to link local business security systems video feeds to GPD

Involve Renters

DO SOON

Strengthen and build block clubs on each block in UP-East with ofﬁcers and a regular meeting schedule Create a housing façade improvement program

Business

DO NOW

Involve

STRATEGIES

Create a low interest loan pool for housing rehabilitation

Urban League, Federation of Block Clubs

Community Development

Modify existing home repair programs Develop partnerships with ﬁnancial institutions to bring additional resources to homeowners in UP-East for property upkeep and mortgage reductions

Revive front yard lights program Meet with all existing business owners in UP-East to understand their current needs and their ability to compete in a more competitive environment Connect owners interested in expansion with appropriate training and ﬁnancial programs

Community Development, Local Banks Gary Police Department, Local Businesses, Residents Gary Police Department, NIPSCO, Residents

Small Business Association, HUD, GEDC, Commerce

Educate and register owners interested in federal contracting opportunities Host an annual volunteer fair to bring volunteers together with volunteer opportunities and potential recipients together with providers

City of Gary, Ivy Tech

Increase capacity of Rental Registration program via higher fees and change in fee assessment

Building Department

Modify current program to be more proactive by instituting bi-annual inspections, and eliminate the ability for professionally managed properties to self-inspect

Building Department

Sign an agreement with Lake County Tax Assessor to share homestead information on an annual basis and cross reference known rental units Explore the potential for streamlining inspection functions in the City by moving code enforcement functions from the police department to the building department Align GHA’s HCV program with the Rental Registration program; ensure that all HCVleased units are registered, and HQS inspections include inspections for code violations Host semi-annual tenant rights workshops

KEY PARTNERS

Building Department, Lake County Tax Assessor Building Department, Code Enforcement Building Department, Gary Housing Authority Human Relations Commission

FINAL - January 16, 2017

STRATEGIES

DO SOON

Homeowners

Establish a summer program to connect seniors to church youth groups and volunteer organizations for help with home maintenance or other household tasks Create workshop for existing homeowners to encompass relevant issues and connect them to assistance programs as needed Host one homebuyer workshop annually that features current UP-East homeowners as panelists

KEY PARTNERS Faith-based Organizations

Community Development

Extend Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) program to UP-East

Community Development, Major Employers

Institute Dollar Home Program in UP-East

Community Development, Redevelopment

Increase bicycle and foot patrols Reestablish annual Bicycle Rodeo Safety

Expand existing “Coffee with a Cop” program to more locations in UP-East Hold community conversations to develop a formal public safety-resident agreement to promote resident collaboration

Gary Police Department, IUN Police Department, Gary for Life

Bring the Department of Justice’s National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice to UP-East to decrease/eliminate code of silence

Renters

START NOW

Explore having ofﬁcers in uniform distribute refreshments from an ice cream truck to teach kids not to run away

Reinstitute the City’s Rental Rehabilitation Program

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Community Development

PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE: INVEST TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW UP-East has many of the right ingredients to become a vibrant and thriving community. With the only two institutions of higher education in the City in the neighborhood that bring over 10,000 students, faculty and staff on a daily basis, proximity to the commercial spine of the City, convenient access to all of northwest Indiana via car or public transit, and possible availability of land for new development, the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential for growth is extremely high.

Our best days are still ahead.

However, there are obstacles to realizing that potential. To overcome these barriers, the City and its partners must begin now to ready the community to capture new growth and investment. These incremental steps are vital to the overall future success of the neighborhood. This element focuses on supporting and concurrent activities to new development that are described in detail in Chapter 4.

Exterior and interior pictures of Indiana University Northwestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new 126,300 sf Arts and Sciences Building under construction on the northeast corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway. Construction completion scheduled for 2017.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

TO PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE... GROW LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP One path to greater wealth for residents is through entrepreneurship. With many talented and resourceful residents, supporting new business creation can both diversify the menu of retail establishments in the neighborhood as well as attract new residents to the community. +

Develop/deliver training workshops and education initiatives for residents interested in starting their own business. The Small Business Association (SBA) has a Ready, Set, Go workshop series for individuals interested in starting their own business and over the course of three workshops, covers topics such as business plan development, credit worthiness and marketing. The SBA has already started offering this workshop series to interested residents.

Develop and expand IUN’s non-degreed entrepreneurship course into a degree program. Currently a ﬁve-week course offered through IUN’s adult education division, transitioning the entrepreneurship course into a degree program would enable students to dive much deeper into the various aspects of entrepreneurship while also coming away with a recognized degree.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Establish a small business incubator and/or technology and innovation center in UP-East. With two higher education institutions in close proximity, UP-East is well positioned to become a center for innovation and business development. Creation of an incubator would also increase the marketability of the community to non-residents. Initial steps include commissioning a feasibility study and assessing the viability of potential locations to incubate new businesses.

TO PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE... INCREASE MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS UP-East is well-located with excellent access to transportation networks that connect to other parts of northwest Indiana and beyond. This will only be improved with the introduction of new rapid bus service on Broadway in summer 2017. The quality of the transit network within UP-East needs improvement to ensure that residents can move easily and safely to destinations near and far using all modalities available to them (walking, biking, driving, public transit).

Ensure public transit users have access to shelter, route information and stop locations. Comfort, safety and information are essential elements that increase ridership on public transportation. Currently, most bus stops only have a sign with no route information, and very few have bench seating. With new rapid bus service coming, the opportunity exists to capture additional ridership with strategic improvements. • Install or replace shelters at high ridership locations (35th/Broadway, Ridge/Broadway, 35th by Ivy Tech) • Install new signage at all bus stops to include route information

Integrate bike lanes on secondary connector streets (along 35th and on Georgia) and them link to existing bicycle network. No dedicated bicycle lanes or sharrows currently exist in UP-East. However, the neighborhood is located close to two major trail networks that are a part of the City’s GreenLink – Little Calumet River Trail on the north side of the neighborhood that is slated for improvements in 2017, and Oak/Savannah Trail to the south at 50th and Georgia. As a result, the priority for bicycle lanes/ sharrows are along 35th between IUN and Ivy Tech (and possibly to Grant), and Georgia to connect the Little Calumet River and Oak/Savannah Trails.

Create and maintain safe and clear pedestrian walking routes. At present, approximately 20% of the sidewalks in UP-East are in poor condition, i.e. unusable or overgrown. This includes a stretch on 35th between IUN and Ivy Tech. Nearly 25% of UP-East households do not own a vehicle, so having sidewalks that are safe and usable is extremely important. • Repair and/or maintain sidewalks starting with major pedestrian thoroughfares (35th, MLK Drive, Ridge), followed by gateways and residential density • Improve crosswalks in highly trafﬁcked locations – across Broadway, along 35th, other major roadways (Ridge and MLK) • Install wayﬁnding signage on Broadway and along 35th (direction and distance)

Expand the public transit network. As growth occurs in UP-East, the public transit authority will assess the need to increase service frequency on existing bus routes and the addition of new bus stops based upon new development in the neighborhood.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

TO PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE... RECLAIM THE RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE Illegal dumping and overgrown vacant lots combined with unsecured vacant homes are a blight on the neighborhood. Addressing this blight is the number one priority for residents. Cleaning up abandoned and vacant homes and lots and maintaining them will be essential to changing the perception and feel of the neighborhood and engendering a sense of optimism that things can and will change for the better. +

Address blighted areas through organized cleanups, board-ups, and demolition. Due to limited resources and extent of the issue citywide, the City cannot eliminate blight in UP-East alone. Tackling this issue requires collaboration between all stakeholders. Residents and business owners must be willing to contribute to clean-up efforts as well as contact the City when issues arise. And the City needs to support the efforts of the community to keep their neighborhood clean. • Organize semi-annual neighborhood cleanup days • Support block clubs through neighborhood cleanups in connection with 5x5x5 events • Enact the Neighborhood Steward Program - City clean-up efforts are targeted where residents agree to long-term maintenance of cleaned vacant lots • Prioritize demolition of unsafe structures in UP-East

Develop Section 3 maintenance program in conjunction with Gary Housing Authority for vacant lot maintenance. With the imminent demolition of Colonial Gardens 2, GHA will be responsible for maintaining the vacant land as well as Colonial Gardens 1 while it awaits demolition. Given that GHA contractors will be in the neighborhood maintaining these two sites, the opportunity exists for the contractors to hire and or work with UP-East residents to maintain additional vacant lots.

Promote City’s Side-lot Program to UP-East property owners. The Redevelopment Commission administers the Side-lot Program whereby property owners can apply to own a qualiﬁed adjacent city-owned lot. Not necessarily widely known about, the program will be marketed to UP-East residents.

EARLY ACTION GRANT - EARTH DAY 2016 CLEAN UP AND CELEBRATION Grantee: Ivy Tech Minority Male Initiative On Earth Day, the Minority Male Initiative led a University Park East clean up along the 35th Avenue corridor from Broadway to MLK Drive. The day ended with a celebration with entertainment, food, and information booths/resources. Over 150 volunteers came out to clear debris, mow and beautify the corridor. FINAL - January 16, 2017

TO PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE... FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND OPEN SPACE The northern portion of UP-East is located in a ﬂood plain with associated wetlands. Flooding during rain events is a common occurrence in certain parts of the neighborhood and is a concern for residents. There are also no public parks in UP-East; however, Gleason Park, located across Broadway, offers athletic facilities and a golf course for use by residents. Two additional parks (East Side and Howe) are located south of Ridge and the City is planning on making renovations to Howe Park in by 2017. +

Develop a green infrastructure plan for UP-East. With abundant vacant lots, there is an opportunity to install, either temporarily or permanently, green infrastructure via the “Vacant to Vibrant” initiative. Stormwater parks and passive nature areas offer some possible ways to mitigate the impact of ﬂooding in the community.

Assess natural areas within UP-East to create a comprehensive preservation and land use plan. The Little Calumet River and adjacent wetlands are valuable natural amenities that are also central to improving water quality and addressing ﬂooding issues in the area. Incorporating this natural resource into the overall plan for the neighborhood will provide a long-term beneﬁt to the community.

Converting vacant land in University Park East into temporary or permanent stormwater parks would both address flooding issues during rain events and provide quality open space in the neighborhood.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE... PRIME THE PUMP FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT While UP-East has a number of vacant and abandoned structures and lots, very few are currently owned by the City. To position the community for future development, strategic acquisition and demolition must be undertaken to aggregate land in targeted locations. Speciﬁc physical redevelopment opportunities for housing, commercial and open space programming are discussed in detail in Chapter 4 - Housing and Commercial Redevelopment Opportunities . +

Aggregate and re-plat lots in targeted UP-East areas based on development priorities. Based upon recent commercial and housing market assessments, speciﬁc opportunity areas within UP-East have been identiﬁed where new development should be pursued. Actions necessary to position these areas for redevelopment include the following: • Acquire tax sale properties and prioritize demolition of existing structures once acquired • Adopt new zoning based upon types of development desired • Pursue funding to support acquisition and demolition

Spur redevelopment on catalytic sites in UP-East. Given current market conditions, redevelopment in UP-East will most likely require the City to prepare a formal presentation package with market and ﬁnancial feasibility information to attract investors and developers until the market in UP-East has been proven.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Develop marketing package and possibly incentives for existing businesses to relocate to UP-East or establish a satellite location. As UP-East begins to improve, it will become an ideal location for existing successful businesses to relocate to or open a satellite location. Even prior to that, Broadway already has enough trafﬁc to support new businesses per the commercial market study (drug store, university book store, personal services, convenience store, fast casual restaurant and coffee shop). With existing vacant storefronts on Broadway, the opportunity exists for new businesses to move there now.

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE - KEY PARTNERS AND TIMEFRAMES

Entrepreneurship

STRATEGIES

Develop/deliver training workshops and education initiatives for residents interested in starting their own business

KEY PARTNERS

SBA, Commerce, GEDC, IUN, Jobs 4 Gary

Blight Removal

DO NOW

Organize semi-annual (spring/fall) neighborhood cleanup days in UP-East Support block clubs through neighborhood cleanups in connection with 5x5x5 events Enact the Neighborhood Steward Program - target major clean-up efforts where residents agree to long-term maintenance once they have been cleaned Prioritize demolition of unsafe structures in UP-East Develop Section 3 maintenance program with Gary Housing Authority for vacant lot maintenance Promote City’s Side-lot Program to UP-East property owners

Transit

Repair and/or maintain sidewalks on major pedestrian thoroughfares (35th, MLK Drive, Ridge), followed by gateways and residential density Improve crosswalks in highly trafﬁcked locations

Install new signage at all bus stops to include route information Green

Gary Housing Authority Redevelopment

Public Works, Indiana Department of Transportation

Install wayﬁnding signage on Broadway and along 35th Install or replace shelters at high ridership locations

Public Works, Redevelopment, block clubs, residents and local businesses

Develop green infrastructure plan for UP-East

Gary Public Transportation Corporation Green Urbanism, Redevelopment, Parks, Environmental Protection Agency

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Develop Transit

Assess natural areas to develop a comprehensive preservation and land use plan

Entrepreneurship

Green

Spur redevelopment by preparing formal presentation packet with market and ďŹ nancial feasibility information Integrate bike lanes on secondary connector streets

Develop

START NOW

DO SOON

STRATEGIES Develop marketing package/incentives for existing businesses to relocate to UP-East or establish a satellite location

Establish a small business incubator and/or technology and innovation center

Expand IUNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-degree entrepreneurship course into a degree program

KEY PARTNERS

Commerce, GEDC

Public Works, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission Green Urbanism, Redevelopment, Parks, Environmental Protection Agency

IU Bloomington Kelley School of Business, GEDC, Commerce

Indiana University Northwest

Aggregate and re-plat lots in targeted UP-East areas based on development priorities Acquire tax sale properties and prioritize demolition of existing structures once acquired Adopt new zoning based upon types of development desired

Redevelopment, Planning

Transit

Pursue funding to support acquisition and demolition Expand the public transit network as new development occurs

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Gary Public Transportation Corporation

The Blueprint for Change seeks to realize the potential of University Park East to attract new residents as well as improve the lives of existing residents through concentrated and strategic investment.

4 HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT OPTIONS

With over 10,000 employees and students currently passing through UP-East on a daily basis to work and/or attend classes at IUN or Ivy Tech, the Blueprint for Change seeks to realize the potential of this neighborhood to attract new residents as well as improve the lives of existing residents through concentrated and strategic investment. The construction of the new 126,300 square foot Arts & Sciences Building by IUN that will be jointly used by IUN and Ivy Tech at Broadway and 35th and the planned implementation of rapid bus transit service on Broadway in 2017 are two signiďŹ cant investments that can be used to leverage new residential and commercial development.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

OVERVIEW

Using the new Arts and Sciences Building and planned rapid bus service along Broadway as launching points, the potential housing and commercial development opportunities presented in this chapter are structured to build off of the market energy generated by these investments. Starting from Broadway and moving eastward toward Ivy Tech, the proposed redevelopment approach is deliberately structured to position new investment to be as successful as possible. Success of initial development is critical to demonstrating the market potential of the community and the ability to attract additional private investment in the future. Informed by a recent market assessment and on-the-ground realities with respect to neighborhood conditions and land ownership, the redevelopment approach is phased over time. This allows for the plan to be ﬂexible as the market changes in the future and other new development and investments happen in the neighborhood. While real development potential does exist, it will not take place overnight and must be supported with concurrent investments in the physical fabric of the neighborhood as described in Chapter 3. Together, neighborhood improvements and new development will position UP-East to achieve it full potential as a thriving and vibrant community. With these parameters in mind, new physical development in UP-East is divided into three phases:

Phase 1 - building on the demand generated by students and staff at IUN and new investments, the southwest corner of Broadway and 35th has the greatest near-term potential for new development. Based upon current trafﬁc and housing demand, up to 5,500 sf of commercial space such as a coffee shop and a fast-casual restaurant, and 80-100 residential units in a mixed-income, multi-story building are feasible from a market perspective. Inﬁll housing would also begin along 35th between Broadway and Tennessee to test the market for duplexes and townhomes, while simultaneously reviving the primary east-west corridor of the neighborhood connecting IUN with Ivy Tech.

Phase 2 - continuing with inﬁll housing on 35th this phase also proposes a new grocery store or pharmacy at the intersection of Broadway and Ridge.

Phase 3 - redevelopment of the vacant school site at 35th and Georgia would include single and multi-family homes plus a senior or community center.

Once the school site is transformed, redevelopment of the Colonial Gardens 1 and 2 sites becomes feasible. Suitable for a mix of residential uses including townhomes, duplexes, single-family homes, and senior apartments, it is anticipated at the housing market will have improved to support development in these less visible locations.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

GEORGIA ST

swamp

PHASE 3: CREATE A PASSIVE STORMWATER PARK FOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION

33RD AVE

VERMONT ST

BROADWAY

d plain 100-year floo

PHASE 3: REDEVELOP BEN FRANKLIN SITE WITH SINGLE AND MULTI-FAMILY HOMES & A SENIOR/COMMUNITY CENTER

34TH AVE

PHASE 1/2: RESIDENTIAL INFILL ALONG 35TH AVE BUS ONLY

35TH AVE

KENTUCKY ST

RHODE ISLAND ST

INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

IVY TECH

wetland

35TH AVE

BUS ONLY

PHASE 2: REPURPOSE COLONIAL GARDENS 2 AS A PASSIVE STORMWATER PARK

PHASE 1: COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT 35TH AVE & BROADWAY

FUTURE PHASE: INFILL HOUSING AT COLONIAL GARDENS 2

36TH AVE

TENNESSEE ST

VERMONT ST

GEORGIA ST

CAROLINA ST

VIRGINIA ST

MARYLAND ST

DELAWARE ST

PENNSYLVANIA ST

CONNECTICUT ST

MASSACHUSETTS ST

BROADWAY

FUTURE PHASE: INFILL HOUSING AT COLONIAL GARDENS 1 37TH AVE

PHASE 2: COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT RIDGE RD & BROADWAY

37TH AVE

RIDGE RD

FINAL - January 16, 2017

1/4 Mile

Source: Farr Associates, 2016

N 75

MARKET ANALYSIS

In the housing and commercial market study completed by SB Friedman for the area, UP-East has untapped market potential2. This potential is driven by the presence of key assets and unmet sources of demand that can be leveraged to revitalize the neighborhood including: +

IUN and Ivy Tech - together, IUN and Ivy Tech have nearly 10,000 students and 1,400 faculty and staff. Attracting even a small percentage of this population to stay in the neighborhood could greatly increase the potential for housing development in UP-East. There is also a need for cafes, restaurants and retail establishments for the student body and faculty/staff. Workers at major employers - major employers in Gary, including Methodist Hospitals, U.S. Steel/Gary Works and Gary Community School Corporation, employ thousands of workers. Any new housing development in UP-East should be marketed to workers of major employers within the City, as well as those along all major transportation corridors (I-90, I-94, Broadway, I-65 and the South Shore Line) leading to the City.

Existing Gary residents and in-migrants to Gary - while Gary has seen a net outďŹ&#x201A;ow of residents for many years, data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that between 2010 and 2014, on average, nearly 3,370 people over the age of 20 moved into Gary each year. This includes 400 people making at least $35,000, who are likely to be able to afford new residential construction and enhance the consumer buying power for retail uses. Existing residents looking to move and purchase or rent new housing is another source of interest for new development.

Growing elderly population - paralleling national trends, Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population is aging; by 2020, Gary is projected to add 870 senior householders over age 65. Senior housing options including independent living and assisted living would provide housing options for aging senior households in UP-East as well as the City as a whole.

2 See Appendix B for the Executive Summary and the Final Market Study and Development Strategy for University Park-East prepared by SB Friedman Development Advisors.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

WHAT IS A MARKET STUDY? A real estate market study answers the following questions: +

+ +

What type and how much real estate (for-sale homes, apartments, retail, etc.) can be built? Who would rent or buy new housing and who would shop at the new commercial development? At what rent or price would this new development be leased or purchased? How long will it take for this new real estate to be rented or purchased?

With a lack of new construction for-sale housing available within Gary and competition from available housing options in the larger Northwest Indiana residential market, the residential product suggested for UP-East are based on the housing found in nearby suburban communities, but contextualized for a more urban setting including walkability. ModiďŹ cations include narrower lot widths and garages set further back from the street. Price points would also be set lower initially, approximately a 20-25% discount, due to lower housing values in Gary than suburban communities. Senior housing could also be part of the redevelopment program given that the aging of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population will drive demand and likely result in a quick lease-up any new units developed.

To answer these questions, a market analyst looks at the demand and supply for different types of real estate. For example, housing demand is impacted by population growth, purchasing power, and the preferences of people renting or buying housing. The market analyst examine the existing supply of housing and their characteristics (rents, prices, and types of units) to understand the housing options available to local residents. The difference between supply and demand and how they can be aligned tells the analyst what the potential development opportunities are.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

BUILDING TYPES

SINGLE FAMILY (on-street parking) 1,500 - 1,800 sf unit 37.5’-50’ x 125’ lot

SINGLE FAMILY (detached garage) 1,500 - 1,800 sf unit 50’ x 125’ lot

SINGLE FAMILY (attached garage) 1,500 - 1,800 sf unit 50’ x 125’ lot Source: Farr Associates, 2016

FINAL - January 16, 2017

DUPLEX (two driveways) 1,300 sf unit 75’ x 125’ lot

DUPLEX (parking lot) 1,300 sf unit 75’ x 125’ lot

TOWNHOME (parking lot) 1,000 - 1,300 sf unit 100’ x 125’ lot FINAL - January 16, 2017

COMMERCIAL MARKET DEMAND BY PROGRAM SQUARE FOOTAGE RETAIL PROGRAM

PHASE Square Footage

Stories

FAST CASUAL RESTAURANT

3,000

COFFEE SHOP

2,000

CONVENIENCE STORE

2,500

1/2

SERVICE USES

4,500

1/2

GROCERY

26,000

PARKING

current code

Source: SB Friedman, 2016

RESIDENTIAL MARKET DEMAND BY BUILDING TYPE LOT WIDTH

DWELLING UNITS BUILDING TYPE

PARKING

ABSORPTION

Square Footage/Unit

Beds

Bath

Per Unit (Min)

Per Unit (Max)

Location

Units/Month

Phase 1 Total Units

SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED

1,500 - 1,800

2-3

2-2.5

50’

Attached Garage

DUPLEX

1,200 - 1,400

25’

Attached Garage

.25

TOWNHOME

1,000-1,300

1.5

37.5’

Detached Garage

700-850

1-2

Rear Yard Surface Pad

all units within a year

80-100

MIDRISE (MULTI-FAMILY)

Source: SB Friedman, MetroStudy, Lake County Assessor (2016)

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Building upon existing strengths and market dynamics, the proposed development strategy and phasing plan are designed to create synergies that have catalytic impacts in stabilizing and improving the neighborhood. The goal is to start development at the activity node at Broadway and 35th and extend into the key redevelopment sites within the heart of the neighborhood.

+ + + +

Redevelopment of UP-East will likely be incremental in its execution, and require the involvement of a number of parties. Local employers and local banks will need to be involved in this development process, and the City and its partners will need to take an active role in setting up the new development for success. These include:

+ +

FINAL - January 16, 2017

strategically assembling opportunity sites for new development in the near-term updating the existing zoning to inform and dictate what new development should look like3 working with local banks to obtain low-interest loans for construction ďŹ nancing and/or prospective homebuyers working with foundations and employers to set up a down-payment assistance program for potential homebuyers initiating a marketing strategy for all new residential development to IUN and Ivy Tech students, faculty and staff and workers of major employers in Gary and along transportation corridors to Gary initiating the marketing of sites to national and local retailers once land has been assembled applying for and assembling federal and local ďŹ nancing sources for subsidizing new development

For a discussion of recommended zoning changes, please see Appendix C.

PHASE 1 - BROADWAY AND 35TH AVENUE + INFILL ON 35TH

Broadway remains a primary north-south commercial and transit corridor for Gary running from the lakefront and downtown to Merrillville south of the City. Plans are underway to implement rapid bus service along Broadway in 2017, with two stops in UP-East (Broadway at 35th and at Ridge Road) to improve transit connections. The corner of 35th Avenue and Broadway currently experiences the highest number of on-boardings and offboardings in the public transportation network. Due to its proximity to IUN and 35th (which connects to the highway and Ivy Tech), the corner of Broadway and 35th Avenue is the strongest place to start new development. Based on market research, there appears to be near-term market potential for a mixed-use development including rental apartments and restaurant/retail establishments at Broadway and 35th. The recommended phase 1 development program for UP-East includes 80-100 rental units and 8,00012,000 square feet of commercial uses that include a cafĂŠ, a fast casual restaurant, a convenience store and service uses.

The development should be located as close as possible to the IUN Campus and the Arts and Sciences building under construction at the intersection of Broadway and 35th Avenue to make it feel like an extension of the campus and attract students and faculty patronage for the retail/restaurant component. The coffee shop and fast casual restaurants should be sit-down locations with free Wi-Fi and space to lounge or study. It is recommended that 80% of the 80-100 apartment units are developed as affordable rental units, and the remaining 20% be unrestricted market-rate rental units. The performance of the market-rate units in the mixed-income project would serve to establish a new construction rental apartment market, encouraging a future developer to undertake a more ambitious market-rate development. InďŹ ll along 35th Avenue between Broadway and Tennessee could also begin later in this phase to test the market for duplexes and townhomes in UP-East, while simultaneously reviving the primary east-west corridor of the neighborhood connecting IUN with Ivy Tech.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

BROADWAY & 35TH AVENUE 35TH AVE

parking

Cafe and Restaurant 5,500 sf BUS ONLY

BROADWAY

parking

WASHINGTON ST

Residential 80-100 units 800 sf/du 4 stories

parking

36TH AVE

Source: Farr Associates, 2016

FINAL - January 16, 2017

AFFORDABLE AND MARKET-RATE RENTAL APARTMENTS

RESTAURANT AND COFFEE SHOP ALONG THE NEW BROADWAY METRO EXPRESS ROUTE

IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE ON 35TH AVE

Rendering of Broadway and 35th Avenue looking southwest

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Rendering of new IUN Arts and Sciences building currently under construction on the northeast corner of Broadway and 35th Avenue

FINAL - January 16, 2017

PHASE 2 - BROADWAY AND RIDGE + INFILL ON 35TH

In addition to developing housing, there is demand for a new 20,000-25,000 square foot grocery store at a high visibility corner location such as Ridge Road and Broadway. A grocery store would provide a key amenity for future and existing residents of UP-East and make the residential market more attractive.

BROADWAY & RIDGE RD - OPTION 1

BROADWAY

The high visibility location at the corner of Broadway ad Ridge offers a great opportunity for a new grocery store to address the need for fresh and healthy food in the neighborhood.

parking

Grocery 17,000 sf

MASSACHUSETTS ST

InďŹ ll development would continue along 35th and proceed according to demand and the market in Phase 2.

parking

RIDGE RD N Source: Farr Associates, 2016

FINAL - January 16, 2017

BROADWAY & RIDGE RD - OPTION 2

BROADWAY

MASSACHUSETTS ST

parking

Grocery 26,000 sf

RIDGE RD N

Source: Farr Associates, 2016

FINAL - January 16, 2017

PHASE 3 - BEN FRANKLIN SCHOOL SITE

The vacant Ben Franklin Elementary School site offers the best opportunity for large-scale new development in UP-East. At almost 20 acres, the school site offers the opportunity to provide a critical mass of housing and a diversity of product types, including townhomes, duplexes, single-family homes, and senior apartments. These units, designed with the right mix of features, can appeal to faculty and staff at IUN and Ivy-Tech, workers of major employers, and existing residents looking to purchase new housing. The preferred plan for the school site by residents and local stakeholders features the reconnection of the site back into the surrounding street grid, and denser development along 35th to activate the street with single-family/townhomes/ duplexes behind. As illustrated, the plan proposes to reconnect the street grid at 34th and extend Carolina Street north of 35th where it currently ends. Parcels are divided into 50â&#x20AC;&#x2122; wide lots to align with the rest of the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parcels, with larger parcels fronting 35th to accommodate larger multi-family developments and a potential senior or community center. A passive stormwater park at the north end of the site helps to mitigate and prevent future ďŹ&#x201A;ooding as well as provides a passive recreational and educational space for residents.

The 20-acre Ben Franklin Elementary School site offers the best large-scale residential development potential.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

33th Ave

Georgia St

Virginia St

100-year flood plain

Stormwater Park

Single Family Detached Homes (50 Parcels)

34th Ave

Stormwater Median

Senior Housing & Community Center (250’ x 250’ Parcel)

Multi-Family Homes (250’ x 125’ Parcel)

wetland

35th Ave Carolina St

FINAL - January 16, 2017

STORMWATER MEDIAN AND PARK 33 RRDD A VE

A VARIETY OF SINGLE- AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING

T DS AN RYL MA

34 TH TH AVE

COMMUNITY CENTER AND SENIOR HOUSING

ST IA GIN VIR

LIN

RESIDENTIAL INFILL ALONG 35TH AVE

AV E

GE OR

GI A

35 TH

Rendering of Ben Franklin School Site looking northwest

FINAL - January 16, 2017

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES Future phases would build on the success of previous phases. The redevelopment of Colonial Gardens 1 and 2, while possibly available from a site control standpoint sooner than other development sites, are not located in an optimal area for earlier development. With little visibility from 35th Avenue and farther away from the major activity hub at Broadway and 35th, it is likely that redeveloping Colonial Gardens 1 and 2 prior to building up the market for new housing in UP-East would neither be successful nor align with the overall goals for the neighborhood. A potential interim use of the Colonial Gardens 2 site prior to redevelopment would be the creation of a passive stormwater park. Located close to the 100-year ďŹ&#x201A;ood plain, this park could serve as a temporary open space as well as manage future ďŹ&#x201A;ood events. When the time comes to redevelop Colonial Gardens 1 and 2, the sites would be suitable for a mix of residential development including townhomes, duplexes, single-family homes and senior apartments. Some of the units developed in future phases could also include some replacement public housing units or deeply subsidized units as the overall housing market improves to ensure long-term affordability of housing in UP-East.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

REPLACEMENT PUBLIC HOUSING GHA received approval from HUD to demolish all 78 units of scattered site public housing at Colonial Gardens 1 and 2 in April 2015. Since then, the 18 remaining families have been permanently relocated. Under the demolition approval for Colonial Gardens 1 and 2, GHA was not required to replace the public housing units approved for demolition (which included other sites in addition to Colonial Gardens 1 and 2). Over the next several years, GHA will work in partnership with the City and other stakeholders to assess the feasibility of developing replacement public housing units as various development opportunities arise throughout the City. Some of these replacement public housing units may be located within UP-East in future phases as a part of a mixed-income development or in other parts of the City. Former Colonial Gardens 1 and 2 families who have been permanently relocated will have the opportunity to move back into any new public housing developed, whether in UPEast or elsewhere.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN New construction in the neighborhood should feature sustainable elements from the initial design. These include incorporation of high-efficiency water fixtures and toilets to reduce water consumption, building envelopes with better insulation and use high-efficiency glazing to meet LEED for Homes (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. Appliances should be Energy-Star rated with each unit having a programmable thermostat attached to its Energy-Star HVAC system (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). Additionally, updates to the existing infrastructure should be incorporated as new development occurs, including new sewer and water pipes, repaved sidewalks, additional site lighting, and landscape improvements. These design features contribute to the overall approach to achieving LEED for Neighborhood Design (LEED-ND) certification, which combines energy-efficiency measures such as neighborhood connectivity; smart locations; neighborhood design; and access to jobs, quality schools, quality services, and retail2.

A detailed LEED-ND scorecard based on the proposed new development at the school site can be found in Appendix D.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Being intentional and committed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is what it will take to change our community.

5 MOVING FORWARD

With the community as our guide, the Blueprint for Change for UP-East outlines the speciďŹ c strategies and actions to be taken that will have a positive and lasting impact on this important Gary neighborhood. To achieve our collective vision for UP-East, we as a community, including residents, businesses, City departments, service organizations and institutional partners, must work in unison. Each of us plays an integral role in shaping the future of this community and helping it to become a thriving and vibrant community where families can raise their children and seniors can grow old, students come to study and young professionals are a part of the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revival, the streets are walkable and the business district is active, residents feel safe and connected to their neighbors, and everyone enjoys high quality amenities and can lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

TAKING ACTION The Blueprint for Change on UP-East is already resulting in tangible improvements in the neighborhood. In the six months since the draft Blueprint was completed, numerous actions have been taken and investments made as a direct result of the planning effort. These include: August 2016 + Rollout of new community policing initiatives by the Gary and IUN Police Departments - re-establishment of City bike patrol and IUN PD Sweet Treat Ice Cream Truck initiative September 2016 + Repaving of 35th Avenue from Broadway to Martin Luther King Boulevard, and Georgia from 39th Street to I-80/94 + Establishment of three new Block Clubs in UP-East - 800 E. 36th Place, 1000 E. 36th Place, 3600 Connecticut Street - with new street signage + Completion of three-series Business Smart Workshop hosted by the Small Business Administration October 2016 + Changes adopted to City’s Housing Repair Program to serve more homeowners effective January 1, 2017 + Initiation of citywide Green Infrastructure planning process including UP-East with completion date of December 2017 + Hosting of UP-East Block Club Open House at Ivy Tech in October 2016 that included health screenings and discussion of public safety issues + Launch of City Life Center’s City Kids afterschool program

November 2016 + Opening of Edgewater Primary CARE facility on Broadway + Start of 32nd Street Flow Diversion Modification Project to improve the efficiency and capability of sanitary sewage system serving a number of residential areas including UP-East December 2016 + Award Round 2 Hardest Hit funding from the state to demolish four vacant and blighted structures in UP-East + Funding from the Legacy Foundation to incorporate public art into new bus shelters on Broadway + Release of Request for Qualifications for PreQualification of Development Teams by Gary Redevelopment Commission for target investment areas including UP-East - responses due in January 2017 Additionally, between July and November 2016, the City’s General Services department removed debris, cut vacant lots or properties, and patched potholes in 35 different locations in UP-East.

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Three new UP-East Block Clubs with new street signage

Health screening at UP-East Block Club Open House

FINAL - January 16, 2017

IUN-PD Sweet Treat Ice Cream Truck initiative

Groundbreaking for 32nd Street Flow DIversion Modification Project

Repaved East 35th Avenue between Broadway and Martin Luther King Boulevard

Gary Bike Patrol

New Edgewater Primary CARE facility on Broadway

FINAL - January 16, 2017

In addition to these accomplishments since July 2016, a number of new investments are slated for 2017: Early 2017 + Rollout of Gary Micro-enterprise Initiative to support self-employment and cultivate “home-grown” businesses Spring 2017 + New LED street lights on Broadway between 25th and 45th Avenues + College Tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities by G.E.M.S., Inc. + Capital improvements on Broadway - paving, new bus shelters with solar lighting, benches, bike amenities and signage Summer 2017 + Launch of Broadway Metro Express service + Ground breaking for new Community HealthNet Health Center at 1500-1535 East 35th Avenue across from Ivy Tech

FINAL - January 16, 2017

Other Pending Actions for 2017 + Memorandum of Understanding between Gary Community School Corporation and Gary Redevelopment Commission to allow the Commission to market and sell vacant school properties including Ben Franklin Elementary School site + Award of CDBG funding from the state to jump start clearance and cutting of vacant lots in UP-East in conjunction with Neighborhood Steward Program and local job creation + Start of quarterly health events in UP-East to include health screenings and insurance enrollment, along with programs on nutrition, smoking cessation, and chronic disease management by Community HealthNet + Expansion of City Life Center’s City Kids afterschool program + Demolition of Colonial Gardens 1 and 2

NEXT STEPS The City and its partners are taking several actions to continue the momentum the planning process for the Blueprint for Change has started in UP-East. First, the City is pursuing the formal adoption by the Common Council of the Blueprint for Change as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. This means that the Blueprint will serve as the guiding document for redevelopment of this community, and any future public and private investment must align and support the stated vision and outcomes. It also formally codiﬁes what various City departments have already been doing informally to implement the strategies outlined in the Blueprint. Second, the co-grantees of the Choice Neighborhoods planning grant - City of Gary, Legacy Foundation, and Gary Economic Development Corporation - will continue to oversee the implementation of the overall Blueprint going forward with the assistance of a Program Manager. This group will continue to work with its current partners - Community HealthNet, Indiana University Northwest, Ivy Tech, and Gary Housing Authority - to carry out speciﬁc Blueprint strategies, and recruit additional partners to support the transformation of UP-East such as a master developer.

100

In the future, as the capacity of the community grows, a community development corporation (CDC), either a reorganized Glen Park CDC or a new nonproﬁt, e.g. University Park CDC, may be engaged to manage and monitor the various activities and initiatives identiﬁed in the Blueprint – which may range from coordinating the activities of different partners, organizing events, preparing and distributing newsletters, communicating and sharing information via social media or other outlets, and serving as a clearinghouse for all things related to the Blueprint. The CDC’s work would be overseen by a Board of Directors comprised of residents and key stakeholders invested in the transformation of UP-East. A portion of the Board would be comprised of current Blueprint Steering Committee members as well as new members, especially additional UP-East residents. Integral to the success of the CDC would be the continued commitment by the City, via its various departments, to prioritize support for and investment in the UP-East community, and other institutional stakeholders. The CDC would serve as a conduit for ensuring that investments and actions by the City are coordinated and aligned with the Blueprint’s goals.

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WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? The transformation of UP-East is a marathon, not a sprint, and it will take many incremental activities that, collectively, over time will positively impact the quality of life in the neighborhood. As such, measuring the success of implementation efforts in UPEast is broken into two components: outputs and neighborhood indicators. +

Outputs track the Blueprint activity taking place in the community – from the number of workshops, volunteer fairs and other events conducted and the level of participation in those activities, to the change in the number of programs and/or dollar resources available. The outputs individually may not necessarily have a signiﬁcant impact, but collectively should shift the community’s well-being over time. These will be reported on annually to assess what work is being done and by whom.

Neighborhood indicators measure the overall stability and health of the community – these measures assess how the neighborhood has fundamentally changed over time and how it compares to the City and region as a whole. These benchmark indicators should be collected every few years to see if the community is moving in the right direction, and can be gathered from secondary sources like the U.S. Decennial Census, American Community Survey, or periodic special assessments like a community health survey.

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“What gets measured gets done.” Why? Regular measurement and reporting keeps you focused, and you use that information to make decisions to improve your results.

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BLUEPRINT OUTPUTS GOAL

OUTCOME

OUTPUT

DATA SOURCE

INVEST IN OURSELVES: CULTIVATE THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUCCESS Parents are equipped to support their child at every development stage.

# of parents who participated in a parenting class/training # of parents engaged in PTA or other school support organization Create parent/child reading program in UP-East # of UP-East forums about family support needs and # of attendees

Resident Survey Gary Literacy Coalition Woodland Child Development Indiana Parenting Institute

Children are prepared to enter kindergarten.

# of children ages 0-5 enrolled in early-learning program # of parents with a child 0-2 who participated in a home visiting program # of early education and care providers in/around UP-East who adopt/align with Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework

Resident Survey Geminus

Youth graduate from high school ready for college and career.

# of youth who participate in out-of-school time (OST) programming # of OST providers using standardized reading and other assessment tools # reading remediation programs available and # of participants # of youth who graduate high school # of college fairs/tours and number of attendees # of youth who enrolled in post-secondary education or training # of school-age youth not enrolled in school

Resident Survey Gary Literacy Coalition Boys & Girls Club City Life Center

Residents are physically and mentally healthy.

# of mobile health fairs held in UP-East; # of attendees, assessments and new health insurance enrollments that result # of â&#x20AC;&#x153;speed-datingâ&#x20AC;? events for medical providers; # of attendees and new enrollments that result # wellness program offerings and # of participants % of residents reporting good physical health Complete feasibility study for UP-East comprehensive healthcare facility Host Healthy Food Challenge and # of participants

Resident Survey Community HealthNet Edgewater Behavioral Health Methodist Hospital Indiana Parenting Institute Marram Health Oak Street Health

Prepare for the workforce

Residents are employed in jobs with family-sustaining wages.

# of youth who participate in summer job, career exploration or other workplace readiness program # of residents enrolled/completed job training or other program # of residents with personal or professional mentor Methods to connect residents with existing workforce programs # of work-based learning opportunities and internships # of employers engaged in workforce training programs

Resident Survey WorkOne Vocational Rehabilitation Services Images of Hope

Establish an information network to share resources and promote engagement

# of resource inventory packets distributed # of UP-East Facebook page likes and/or website hits # of UP-East newsletter editions/total # of newsletters distributed Residents are well# of information tables set-up at local businesses informed about and readily Creation of UP-East Resident Resource Center utilize needed services. Creation of real-time, web-based resource inventory # of publications where UP-East information is made available # of cooperative branding efforts

Prioritize the development of our youth

Connect residents to services that foster well-being

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Web analytics City of Gary

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GOAL

OUTCOME

OUTPUT

DATA SOURCE

ELEVATE OUR STRENGTHS: (RE)BUILD OUR COMMUNITY Inspire resident involvement and collaboration

Residents are actively # of active block clubs engaged in the community. # of volunteer fairs held and # of attendees # of Rental Registration units v. renter households Changes to RRP Coordination between GHA and RRP Sharing of homestead data between County and RRP # of tenant rights workshops held and # of attendees Establishment of Rental Rehab Program & amount of resources available

Urban League Federation of Block Clubs Building Dept U.S. Census Gary Housing Authority Human Relations Commission Community Development

Ensure a quality rental housing stock

Renter households live in decent, safe and sanitary conditions.

Address the needs of existing homeowners and grow future homeowners

# of senior homeowners connected to volunteers # of workshops for existing homeowners # of homebuyer workshops with resident panelists and number of attendees Amount of City resources available for home repairs and amount of Homeowners live in leveraged resources from banks decent, safe and sanitary Community Development conditions and their homes Change in home repair programs available are an economic asset. # of homeowners assisted Extension of Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) program to UP-East and # of homes purchased via EAH # of Dollar Homes sold

Foster stronger policecommunity relations

Residents live in a lowcrime community and feel safe.

Reestablishment of annual Bicycle Rodeo # of “Coffee with a Cop” meetings held and number of attendees # of community conversations held and # of attendees Development of public safety-resident agreement and # of agreements signed Conduct of National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice event in UP-East Institution of innovative police-community building initiatives (ice cream truck, etc.) # of businesses providing video feed to GPD # of new front yard lights installed

Support existing businesses

Business owners have access to the tools and resources needed to maintain and grow their business.

# of businesses contacted # of businesses provided technical assistance on: • Financial assistance programs • Contracting opportunities with federal government

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Gary Police Department IUN Police Department NIPSCO

Small Business Administration

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GOAL

OUTCOME

OUTPUT

DATA SOURCE

PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE: INVEST TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW Grow local entrepreneurship

Residents are part of the economic recovery of the neighborhood.

# of Ready, Set, Go workshop series held and # of attendees # of business licenses issued to UP-East residents Expansion of IUN entrepreneurship course into degree program Establishment of small business incubator or technology/innovation center

Reclaim the residential landscape

UP-East is clean and has well-maintained homes and lots.

# of neighborhood clean-ups and # of participants # of vacant lots cleaned Public Works Creation of Neighborhood Steward Program and # of participating residents Redevelopment # of buildings demolished Garymaps.com # of buildings in poor or dangerous condition

UP-East is positioned for new development and investment.

Adoption of new zoning Creation of marketing package for businesses and developers # of tax sale properties acquired # of building permits issued for residential development # of business licenses issued for UP-East # of vacant residential structures # of vacant storefronts Sq ft of new commercial space # of new residential units

Building Department Zoning Redevelopment Commerce/GEDC

Increase multi-model transportation options

Residents can safely traverse the neighborhood on foot, by bike, or use public transportation.

Linear feet of bike lanes Linear feet of sidewalks in poor condition # of new or improved bus shelters # of improved bus stops with signage Change in bus headways and implementation of new bus routes # of improved crosswalks Installation of wayďŹ nding signage

Public Works Gary Public Transportation Corp.

Focus on the environment and open space

Residents have easy and convenient access to quality parks and open space for play and outdoor activities.

# acres of new open space # of vacant lots transformed with green infrastructure Completion of preservation and land use plan Improvements made to local parks

Parks Green Urbanism

Prime the pump for future investment

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Small Business Association Gary Micro-enterprise Initiative Zoning IUN

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BLUEPRINT HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD INDICATORS INDICATOR

Demographics

Housing

Safety

Economic Development

Transportation Education

Health

Employment

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METRIC

BASELINE

DATA SOURCE

Population

2,171

Age distribution

Under 20 – 34.6% 20-69 – 58.7% 70 and older – 6.7%

U.S. Census

Median home value

$50,567

American Community Survey

Homeownership rate

51.5%

Vacancy rate

28.3%

Violent crime rate

4.15 per 1,000 residents

Property crime rate

65.41 per 1,000 residents

Retail leakage

$23,752,476

ESRI

WalkScore

Walkscore.com

Current businesses

Distance to nearest grocery store

Aldi - 1 mile

Use of public transportation

11.6%

Travel time to work

Less than 30 minutes - 67.1%

Educational attainment

High school diploma - 33.7% Associate degree or higher - 18.4%

American Community Survey

Residents with health insurance

68%

American Community Survey

Residents with a medical home

52%

Households with member suffering 74% from chronic health condition Residents reporting good or excellent physical health

67%

Median household income

$23,836

Families in poverty

32.9%

Households with earnings income

67.4%

Households with food stamps/ SNAP beneﬁts in last 12 months

46.4%

Households with income below $25,000

53.6%

Labor force participation rate

48.9%

Unemployment rate

29.6%

U.S. Census Gary Police Department

Business Survey American Community Survey

Resident Survey

American Community Survey

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