DRAFT
Vision 2010
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it's the only thing that ever has”. – Margaret Mead
Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills – Profile of the Community
Walnut Hills has long been a beacon of diversity among Cincinnati 's neighborhoods. From the beginning, both black and white residents have called this area home. The affluent have always lived side-by-side with the working poor and the community is rich in historic homes, churches, schools and other neighborhood institutions.
Supported by three business districts and two business associations, over 125 proprietors offer a wide range of goods and services along the Lincoln Street , McMillan/Gilbert Avenues, and the Woodburn Avenue business corridors. Four financial institutions serve the area and the community has over 33 churches for your religious affiliation. Families have access to both public and private educational opportunities from elementary grades through post-secondary levels; there are numerous licensed child care facilities, a number of physician groups and human and social services provided by several organizations including 15 United Way –funded agencies.
Challenges for the community include concerns over historic preservation, racial unrest, perceived lack of safety, drug dealing and related crime that have served to be divisive within the community since the 1960's.
The 06 Alliance
In 1999, Walnut Hills was selected as one of three neighborhoods to participate in an innovative project designed to encourage comprehensive community development. The neighborhood received funding through Community Investment Partners (CIP), a group of four of Greater Cincinnati's leading funders, to develop and implement plans to improve their neighborhood from a holistic perspective.
The opportunity of CIP funding led to the formation of a creative partnership between Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills, a first in the neighborhoods' history. The partners called themselves “The 06 Alliance” after the 45206 zip code that both neighborhoods share. Working together the 06 Alliance has tackled an ambitious agenda of housing renovation, economic development, business retention, job training and youth leadership development.
Major partners in the 06 Alliance include the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, Walnut Hills Area Council, East Walnut Hills Assembly, Victory Neighborhood Services Agency, New Thought Unity Center, Mercy Connections and W.J. Williams Branch, YMCA. Each organization has played a unique role in improving the community from many perspectives including physical revitalization, economic development, and human and social development.
Walnut Hills Vision 2010
One of the challenges of comprehensive community development is keeping the momentum going. Physical development is often opportunity driven and requires a long-term investment and strategy. There is no quick fix to solving the problems of economic disinvestments or a lack of affordable housing. The fact that the 06 Alliance was able to accomplish some signature projects and still keep interest in the community high can be attributed to the attention paid to citizen engagement. Through the work of Victory Neighborhood Services and the area Community Councils, citizens will become even more involved in the redevelopment of their Walnut Hills community.
One way to grow civic interest and sustain the gains made through CIP support is to encourage the community to dream a little. The 06 Steering Committee realized that although much had been accomplished in the four years since its inception, the community as a whole lacked a vision of its future. The idea for Vision 2010 was conceived by the 06 Alliance Steering Committee as a way to engage stakeholders of Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills in conversation about their future. Throughout 2001 meetings were held in the community and committees were formed to look at eight distinct areas of community life: Economic Development, Housing, Land Use, Arts, Entertainment & Leisure, Education, Safety, Transportation and Health and Human Services. Through these meetings and committee discussion members of the 06 Alliance learned about the challenges and opportunities of their community. While not a perfect process, this Vision document outlines goals and objectives for the Walnut Hills communities.
A Vision is a blueprint, or a guide. It represents our best vision of the neighborhood we all want to live in. It describes in broad ways, goals and objectives for nurturing, improving, and enhancing community life. A Vision also provides us with a challenge, that is, to create the future we want. As you review this document you will learn about the desires of your fellow citizens, community leaders and members of the 06 Alliance . We hope that you will provide feedback, new ideas and more importantly, your time to making some of these dreams a reality.
Walnut Hills Vision 2010
Our Vision
The 06 communities will be the standard for opportunity and prosperity in urban living. Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills will be safe, healthy, attractive, educated, caring communities with a sense of pride and respect for both individuals and community. Our leaders will be strong, well organized and able to advocate for the rights of all citizens.
The Mission
The Mission of the 06 Alliance is to provide the leadership, direction and support to build
a safe, stable diverse community, where we live, work, pray, play and prosper together.
Vision Elements
Economic Development
Today the 06 community has three distinct business districts, each with tremendous potential for growth. The business districts are in close proximity to the downtown central business district and accessible to the Greater Cincinnati area. The 06 business districts feature historic, mixed-use buildings that exhibit unique architectural character but many are vacant and underutilized.
The availability of these three distinct districts provides an opportunity to create a vibrant mix of business and services offering area consumers many choices. The business district also provides opportunities for employment and training as new businesses are recruited to the 06 area they provide an opportunity for local residents to get jobs.
The district also faces many challenges including perceptions about safety, vacant buildings and crime. Economic development activity must go hand in hand with civic engagement and public safety strategies that enhance the likelihood that the development will succeed. Working together, members of the 06 communities must seek a balance between development and community interests.
Our goal is that by the Year 2010 the 06 community will be economically stable with a strong labor force, a diverse business mix and ownership, which will foster attractive, vibrant business districts.
GOAL #1 :
Strengthen and improve the economic viability in the 06 community business districts.
• Develop marketing strategies to promote the three business districts: Peebles Corner/McMillan Street Business District, Lincoln Avenue Business District, and the DeSales Districts.
• Develop a marketing strategy to recruit and maintain diverse businesses that meet the needs of the residents and other consumers.
• Develop marketing strategies to attract consumers from adjacent and surrounding neighborhoods.
• Develop projects for vacant land to complement the architectural character of the street.
• Bring new technological infrastructure into the community (i.e. fiber optics, high-bandwidth, etc.) to enhance the economic viability of the 06 community.
• Develop programs to train and utilize the community's underutilized labor force in local businesses.
• Educate businesses and property owners about the tools and resources available through the City, State and Federal government.
• Maintain and increase business owners' participation in the existing business district associations.
• Ensure that the 06 business districts will offer retail, products and services based on needs identified by the residents.
GOAL 2 :
Maintain the existing historic and architectural character of the business districts.
• Identify areas for historic and EQ (Environmental Quality) districts and enforce rules governing those standards.
• Encourage historic preservation and reuse of existing structures.
• Increase awareness among business owners, tenants, property owners and residents of the historic and architectural resources of the business district.
• Encourage private investment in the maintenance of property and renovation of properties located in the business districts.
GOAL 3 :
Improve the safety, cleanliness and visual identity of the 06 business districts.
• Develop and implement a strategy to eliminate loitering in the business areas.
• Improve/increase the police presence in the community.
• Identify all vacant buildings and lots in the business areas available for rehab and reuse or recommend demolition where appropriate.
• Develop and implement a strategy to improve street lighting.
• Create business and resident block watch programs and “citizens on patrol” groups
• Procure and maintain additional attractive trash receptacles for the business areas.
• Develop a beautification plan that encourages resident and business involvement.
• Develop and promote façade improvements.
• Develop and implement a streetscape program.
GOAL 4 :
Develop and implement a plan to provide convenient and safe parking that will adequately support the thriving business districts.
• Develop and implement a plan to improve the use and safety of existing and/or additional parking lots within each business district.
• Develop additional parking to support increased activity in each business district.
• Commission a study to convert William Howard Taft Road and East McMillan from a one-way traffic pattern to a two-way traffic pattern and determine how the new traffic patterns can be implemented to enhance the viability of the 06 business districts.
Housing
Housing is one of the leading indicators of economic conditions in a community. In addition to housing being a defining characteristic of neighborhoods, for most people a home is the largest investment they will make in their lifetime. Having safe, affordable, sanitary housing is basic to our standard of living and quality of life. The diverse housing in the 06 community features the blending of historical housing and new developments. The convenient location of the community requires only a ten-minute commute from downtown via car, bus or taxi.
Housing opportunities in the 06 community include the traditional single-family detached home along with condominiums, both townhomes and high-rises, and multi-family dwellings all offering a variety of attractive price ranges. The housing units are both owner-occupied and rental and offer accommodations appealing to singles, families and senior citizens. Nestled within a one-mile radius of cultural institutions, parks, hospitals, universities and a variety of shopping options, the 06 community is a great place for families, singles and senior citizens to live, work, pray and play.
GOAL #1 :
Increase owner-occupied housing in the 06 community.
• Work with banks and mortgage companies to provide financing for the purchase and rehab of a residential property.
• Work with realtors to promote the 06 community and showcase the community's housing character and opportunities.
• Encourage owner-occupied home businesses that complement the residential character of the community.
• Educate community residents about the benefits of homeownership.
• Develop and promote alternative forms of home ownership.
GOAL 2 :
Increase affordable housing opportunities in the 06 community.
• Partner with faith-based, non-profit, for-profit and private organizations and foundations to promote and develop affordable housing in the 06 community.
• Encourage private investment in the maintenance of property and renovation of properties located in the business districts.
• Maintain and promote a listing of available housing for sale and/or rent.
• Promote and support quality management of rental units.
• Develop a policy and process for securing support of special needs housing development in the 06 community.
GOAL 3 :
Market the 06 community as a “place to live and raise a family.”
• Develop and disseminate information about the amenities of the 06 communities particularly the large variety of housing options.
• Develop and maintain an 06 website that markets 06 housing opportunities.
• Ensure that all residential properties are wired for or have access to the world of technology
• Create an “06 Ambassadors Program” that promotes the 06 community.
• Ensure quality neighborhood schools with all of the amenities to attract families to the 06 community.
• Nurture and promote the success of resident block watch programs in keeping the 06 community safe, clean and attractive.
• Promote the diversity of the 06 community as a community asset. The residents of 06 are diverse in ethnic heritage, religious persuasion, lifestyle and socio-economic status.
• Develop and implement a housing marketing plan for the 06 community.
GOAL 4 :
Encourage the renovation and/or demolition of vacant buildings and the upgrade and maintenance of all housing to meet City code; preserve the historic and architectural character and ensure on-going beautification efforts in the 06 community
• Identify targeted blocks for the renovation of vacant buildings for homeownership opportunities.
• Identify resources to support home renovation and maintenance.
• Develop a strategy for the marketing of vacant units above storefronts for rental housing.
• Develop and implement a strategy to renovate and/or demolish all vacant buildings.
GOAL 5 :
Protect the historic housing stock; preserve the architectural character of the 06 community and ensure that new construction fits the character of the neighborhood.
• Support legislation to establish historic districts in sections of the 06 community where residents support such efforts.
• Mark the historic districts located within the 06 community with appropriate signage.
• Create and publish an architectural history of the 06 communities.
• Identify and ensure placement on local and national registers of all buildings worthy of such honor.
Land Use / Zoning
Land use and zoning regulations and policies do have a purpose. They are designed to protect property investments and ensure that usage of land is appropriate to community context and conditions. Zoning and Land Use regulations govern property for example, the height of buildings, property setbacks, housing designs, and housing types. These regulations also consider whether proposed uses of property will be amenable to neighborhood character. Policies developed through land use plans and zoning regulations guide commercial and residential development and protect citizens from adverse property developments.
By the year 2010 the 06 community will have developed and implemented a comprehensive land use plan that promotes a balance of quality commercial and residential properties preserving the historical significance of the area by applying design standards that incorporate revitalization of existing structures in the neighborhood and business districts.
GOAL #1 :
Develop a land use plan that addresses the concerns of residents and property owners and will benefit all neighborhoods in the 06 community.
• Develop a zoning strategy that safeguards the historical character and livability of the 06 community.
• Develop a land use plan that will protect the health, safety and welfare of all residents and provide land and/or easement rights for the installation of an infrastructure supportive of the technology networks that will be located throughout the 06 community.
• Develop a land use plan that encourages single-family residential housing; promotes the value and benefits of residential resale and maintains a stable residential population.
• Develop a strategy to address vacant, abandoned and distressed properties.
• Strengthen 06 community property standards by ensuring that all properties meet structural, health, and safety codes required by the City of Cincinnati .
GOAL #2 :
Develop a land use pattern that defines specific uses for residential properties, commercial properties, and recreational areas in the 06 community.
• Designate specific residential and commercial boundaries.
• Develop a community-wide streetscape program and a façade improvement program in the business districts.
• Create a land use plan for commercial corridors along Gilbert Avenue , McMillan, William Howard Taft Road , Lincoln Avenue, Woodburn Avenue and Madison Road .
• Develop commercial space for use based on identified and/or projected need as the 06 community plans and prepares for the next 25-30 years.
• Develop a plan for parking in and around the business districts.
• Preserve existing parks and green spaces and provide for the development and maintenance of additional green spaces and recreational facilities, including active and passive parks, to benefit the community as needed.
GOAL #3 :
Improve public services and public service facilities in the 06 community .
• Maintain and enhance the public school system, especially at the pre-school and elementary school level, to keep pace with privately funded education in the area.
• Lobby for city, state, and federal funds to maintain and improve the public infrastructure of the 06 community.
• Ensure that all public facilities and public spaces are maintained.
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Leisure
Arts and cultural amenities, a variety of leisure activities, a place where diversity is appreciated and celebrated are measures of a high quality of life and a healthy community. Through the years the 06 community has had a dedicated core of residents diligently working to stretch the imagination and creativity of its residents by providing opportunities for educational, entertainment, recreational and leisure activities. These activities reflect the community's willingness to be creative, to relax, to learn and be enlightened .
By the Year 2010 the 06 community will be recognized for its rich art, entertainment, history and the diversity of recreational and leisure activities available to its residents and visitors to the 06 community.
GOAL #1
Establish arts/entertainment districts in the 06 community
• Identify potential locations for the arts/entertainment districts.
• Explore the feasibility of identifying residential space for artists within the arts/entertainment districts.
• Develop and implement a strategy for the recruitment of galleries, studios, museums, restaurants, nightclubs and other related entities.
• Identify ways to increase opportunities for entertainment and nightlife activity in the 06 community.
• Identify and recruit amenities to support the arts and entertainment districts.
GOAL #2
Identify and increase use of the 06 community's artistic assets and resources
• Establish a database of existing art related and entertainment interests and identify gaps for potential growth.
• Develop and implement a strategy to take advantage of identified assets and resources.
• Develop a community arts center to introduce 06 youth to opportunities in the world of art and to nurture the potential talent of youth within the 06 communities.
• Develop and maintain outreach programs to increase community awareness, participation and use of its artistic assets and resources.
• Develop partnerships with area museums that will foster increased community participation, use and appreciation of the arts.
GOAL #3
Establish a strategy to market the cultural diversity and history of the 06 community
• Collect and review historical data on the 06 community to create educational, entertaining and leisure opportunities to highlight the community's rich history.
• Publish an arts, entertainment and leisure newsletter for the 06 community.
• Develop a strategy and marketing campaign to identify the 06 community as an “Arts and Entertainment Destination”.
• Increase community awareness of the cultural diversity within and outside of the 06 community.
• Design and establish a website for art in the 06 community and ensure the development of a technological infrastructure to support artistic needs as requested.
GOAL #4
Stabilize and expand leisure opportunities for residents in the 06 community
• Survey the 06 community to identify and assess existing leisure opportunities.
• Create opportunities, events, programs to fill identified gaps in recreational and leisure activities for the 06 community.
• Identify and determine how to use or discontinue the underutilized leisure opportunities in the 06 community.
• Develop walking, hiking and bike trails through the 06 community and encourage community residents to take advantage of opportunities to get physically fit.
Education
Education is a continuing life-long learning process. The 06 communities support formal education and informal methods of helping residents obtain new information, skills and insights. Through community gatherings, church meetings, libraries, public, private, and parochial institutions the 06 community supports the educational potential of its residents.
The vision of the 06 community is to provide every resident access to educational opportunities which ensure self-sufficiency; contribute to one's self worth and improve one's quality of life.
By the year 2010 every resident in the 06 community will have the opportunity to learn; be self-sufficient; be enlightened and have fun while gaining new information and skills.
GOAL #1 :
Ensure that the 06 neighborhood schools consist of a network of parents, students, school faculty and other interested parties who collaborate to advocate for a quality, educational experience.
• Participate in the planning effort to develop, revise and update, as needed, the curriculum and extra curricula activities including tutoring opportunities for each neighborhood school.
• Ensure that all 06 schools are rated as merit schools and have specific programs to address truancy, dropout rates, substance abuse, teen pregnancy and improve proficiency test scores.
• Encourage participation in each school's PTA and/or PTO organization.
• Develop continuing education programs that meet the needs expressed by residents and encourage participation by all 06 residents.
• Update and expand the services, titles and technologies available through the 06's branch of the public library.
• Develop a scholarship program for 06 youth to enhance educational opportunities.
GOAL #2 :
Develop, maintain and maximize the neighborhood schools as a center of community life for the residents of the 06 community.
• Design and develop school programs and activities that are available evenings and weekends at the neighborhood schools and other facilities for the 06 community.
• Create sustainable partnerships with the schools within the 06 community that are holistic and designed to build on the strengths of individuals and families.
• Provide supportive professional screenings and services within the school setting for medical, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, and learning disabilities, and provide supportive social services to 06 residents to maximize the learning experience.
GOAL 3 :
Develop alliances with public, private, and parochial schools as well as institutions of higher learning within the 06 community
• Encourage dialogue and an exchange of ideas between educational institutions that will lead to an educational strategy that will have a positive impact on the community's social service programs for 06 residents.
• Build relationships that will lead to the inclusion of 06 residents as advisors to school faculty.
• Create opportunities for students to explore positive facets of life in their community, i.e., “A Day in the Life of the Walnut Hills Area Council President,” or “…of your local pharmacist,” etc.
• Identify, develop and provide financial resources through grants and scholarships for 06 community residents to attend non-public neighborhood schools.
• Create opportunities to engage young people in the civic life of the community.
GOAL 4 :
Develop, establish and provide educational, recreational, and social programs for 06 adult and senior citizen residents .
• Identify community resources and facilities to offer adult and senior citizen learning opportunities.
• Engage youth, adult, and senior citizens in activities that nurture and develop community commitment.
• Design beginner and advanced computer classes to engage 06 residents in all age groups to the world of technology and its many possibilities.
GOAL 5 :
Maximize the learning experience in the neighborhood schools to introduce and prepare the students for higher education, job readiness, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Develop and support well rounded educational programs that include the arts, music, physical education, technology and finance.
• Develop, establish and maintain vocational training programs as an educational option for interested 06 residents.
• Provide opportunities for distance learning.
Public Safety
All residents, business owners and visitors to the 06 community have a basic right to feel safe and secure. The Environment and Safety Committee of Vision 2010 has developed goals and objectives that will foster, enhance and support a safe and secure environment for all residents, business owners and visitors in the 06 community.
By the Year 2010 the 06 community will have taken the appropriate steps to strengthen and increase personal safety by eliminating criminal and environmentally unsafe activity to make the 06 community a safe, clean and viable community.
GOAL #1
Create and engage a Business District Safety Task Force to monitor and address all safety issues and concerns that occur in any of the (3) business districts in the 06 community
• Encourage membership and participation on the Business District Safety Task Force by all business owners and vendors conducting business in the 06 community.
• Develop a strategy to identify and remedy safety issues and concerns as they arise in the business districts.
• Develop a Business Block Watch to keep business district owners, vendors and business association members informed about safety issues and concerns and steps for resolution.
GOAL #2
Establish a Residential Safety Task Force to monitor and address all safety issues and concerns that occur in the residential quadrants of the 06 community
• Strengthen the working relationship with the police officers of Districts #2 and #4 and the firefighters of Engine 23 to assist with the elimination of all threats to a safe, clean 06 community.
• Identify potential sites for the location of community police substations in the 06 community.
• Strengthen existing neighborhood block clubs and work to establish additional block clubs, neighborhood block watch groups and safety programs for youth throughout the 06 community.
• Create a safety communication network that will provide residents with the necessary information and resources to monitor “hot spots” and eliminate all crime in the 06 community including the illegal sale, use and distribution of drugs and prostitution.
GOAL #3
Develop an 06 Environmental Task Force comprised of residents and business owners to monitor the environmental well-being of the 06 community to ensure that it is safe and clean.
• Develop a community-wide marketing campaign that educates and promotes zero tolerance for litter, trash and chemical dumping.
• Develop a strategy for the clean up and reuse of brown fields.
• Conduct on-going community-wide clean-up efforts to remove all litter, debris and graffiti to ensure a clean environment.
• Conduct semi-annual events, contests, etc. to recognize beautification efforts by residents and businesses.
• Strictly enforce the City of Cincinnati 's EQ (Environmental Qualities) guidelines in the business districts.
• Review and support the inspection of all properties to meet the safety provisions of the City of Cincinnati Building Codes for Safety.
GOAL #4
Develop an 06 Safety Committee comprised of representatives from the Business District Safety Task Force; the Residential Safety Task Force and the Environmental Task Force to monitor all safety issues and concerns in the 06 community to ensure a safe, clean, viable community for all residents, business owners and visitors.
• Develop a working strategy for the 06 Safety Committee to ensure that residential, business and environmental safety issues are identified and resolved in the best interest of the entire 06 community.
• Secure volunteers from all three task forces to represent the community-at-large on the 06 Safety Committee.
• Establish a process for providing safety updates to the area councils and business associations on a regular basis from each of the (3) task forces.
• Establish and maintain a community-wide technological network that will be available 24 hours, 7 days a week to monitor and ensure the safe well-being of residents, businesses and visitors in the 06 community.
Transportation
In the 1950s and 1960s when public transportation was the more widely accepted mode of transportation, Peebles Corner was one of the primary transportation hubs in the city of Cincinnati, second only to Downtown Tyler Square, now known as Fountain Square. A healthy commercial life flourished around Peebles Corner, which was supported by a large consumer base due to its role as a major transportation hub. However as the automobile became the preferred mode of transportation, and as shopping and traffic patterns changed, particularly on William Howard Taft Road and East McMillan, the economic viability of Peebles Corner waned resulting in a significant impact on the public transit system and the economy of the 06 community.
Approximately fifty years later another transportation revolution looms on the horizon and the 06 community stands to benefit greatly, due in part to its easy accessibility to the downtown central business district and interstate exchanges and its timely commutes in and out of the city.
By the year 2010 transportation through the 06 community will include environmentally clean, safe, user friendly buses, trains or trams that will be seen as major assets for the community and will serve as a transportation connector for the City's mass public transportation system.
GOAL #1
Establish the 06 community as an accessible destination with various modes of transportation for its residents
• Identify a site for a potential public transportation hub to serve as the connector for any rapid transportation system that will be used by the City of Cincinnati .
• Ensure that the public transportation hub will be user friendly and strategically located with minimum negative impact on the 06 community's environment and air quality.
• Install bicycle racks and designate parking spaces for mopeds and motorcycles throughout the community.
• Develop and implement a neighborhood intra transportation system for the residents of the 06 community that will complement the city's public transportation system.
• Establish a task force to ensure that residents of the 06 communities have a voice in the development of Cincinnati 's light rail system.
GOAL #2
Develop a strategy for the implementation of two-way traffic on East McMillan and William Howard Taft Road
• Identify the advantages of 2-way traffic on East McMillan and William Howard Taft road.
• Provide attractive signage to additional parking in and around the 06 community's business districts.
• Ascertain the impact of 2-way traffic on East McMillan and William Howard Taft Road if the 06 community has a public transportation hub.
• Ensure that the return of 2-way traffic on East McMillan and William Howard Taft Road and/or a public transportation hub do not negatively impact the 06 community's identity as a “walking community”.
GOAL #3
Create a street grid that leads easily to the 06 community's (3) business districts, entertainment districts, leisure, and cultural and historical amenities.
• Design an informative, attractive map and walking tour of the 06 community that highlights “must see” assets in the community and encourages easy accessibility by foot.
• Ensure that the street grid supports the 06 community as a “walking community”; provides for safe accessibility by senior citizens and physically challenged persons and meets ADA standards.
• Improve vehicular and pedestrian circulation within the 06 business districts by developing and maintaining safe pedestrian crossings.
Health and Human Services and Civic Engagement
The people who comprise the 06 community are its greatest asset. From our youth who are the promise of our future to our elders who are the keepers of our past, the 06 community is enriched by the gifts of each individual. The 06 community actively meets the human needs of its residents by providing physical, mental, and spiritual health care and educational opportunities through a variety of service providers.
By the Year 2010 the Health and Human Services Committee of Vision 2010 will have enhanced the 06 community's health and human service base by analyzing current service function; seeking resident input on unmet needs; reviewing statistical data and recommending appropriate adjustments. The goal is to ensure that the 06 community is prepared to meet the needs of its families, singles, seniors and the physically challenged.
GOAL #1
Develop a plan for the reliable delivery of health and human services to individuals, families, children and senior citizens in the 06 community.
• Develop an effective network of communication between all service providers and participants in the 06 community.
• Develop and distribute a database of all services provided by health, human and social service providers, neighborhood churches and educational facilities including access to all aspects of technological advancements.
• Identify gaps in needed services and develop new services, programs, etc. as needed to fill those gaps.
• Develop a mechanism for expanding outreach to individuals, especially our senior citizen population, who suffer from isolation, and provide easier access to needed services.
GOAL #2
Develop a system of quality, accessible, affordable health care for all 06 residents.
• Develop family-oriented, preventive health care programs that encourage health maintenance.
• Provide health care information targeted to senior citizens.
• Provide health care information targeted to residents with physical, mental health and mental retardation challenges.
• Develop and support health fairs offering free screenings and referrals.
• Provide support to neighborhood clinics, nursing homes, transitional housing and substance addiction recovery programs and encourage the development and implementation of long-range goals of advocacy for quality assurance and compliance with City and State guidelines.
GOAL #3
Identify key resources in the 06 community for all health and human service information and civic activities
• Sponsor community-based information forums to share information about human services and civic opportunities.
• Create and implement enjoyable, nurturing, meaningful activities for 06 community youth to counter the lure of negative behavior and activity.
• Provide regular shuttle service for the senior and handicapped residents of the 06 community for day-to-day activities and special events.
• Develop a mechanism(s) for keeping all residents, businesses, organizations and institutions in the 06 community informed about health, human services and civic activities.
• Plan and implement an annual day of celebration and recognition for the community and its diversity.
• Conduct voter education and voter registration events and encourage voter participation regardless of political party interests.
• Develop a viable, thriving bank of volunteers from the 06 community to help spearhead various community efforts and events and encourage involvement in civic activities.
Next Steps –
Vision 2010 describes a community full of vitality, opportunity and promise. Many strides have already been made in the eight key areas of community life identified by residents, but more challenges remain. Our greatest asset, the residents of this community, are a key factor in this plan being implemented and the Victory Neighborhood Services Agency (VNSA) has been charged with the responsibility of working with the residents of the 06 community to develop a work plan to begin implementation of Vision 2010. We hope that you will review this document and talk with your neighbors about it. We need your time, your talent, and your ideas to ensure that the 06 community remains a vital Cincinnati neighborhood. In 2003 VNSA will begin the work of forming committees comprised of residents and community-based stakeholders who will review Vision 2010 and establish priorities based on the document. Their next step will be to develop a work plan of activities to implement the parts of Vision 2010 that address the identified priorities. Together we can create the community we all want to live in. Won't you join us?
For additional information about Vision 2010 contact any member of the 06 Alliance Steering Committee listed below. These individuals represent the various community organizations that originally drafted the application to request funding for the project that was later named 06 Alliance :
- W. James King, Executive Director, Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation
2601 Melrose Avenue – Suite 100 513-281-7070
- Kathleen Atkinson, Board President, Walnut Hills Area Council
736 East McMillan 513-872-7998
- Dorothea Kennedy, East Walnut Hills Assembly
3534 Larkspur Avenue 513-871-6152
- Frank Moore, Chief Professional Officer, Victory Neighborhood Services Agency
2615 Melrose Avenue 513-961-4500
- Sr. Sally Sherman, Executive Director, Mercy Connections
1602 Madison Road 513-221-7331
- Fr. C. Patrick Williamson, Pastor, New Thought Unity Center
1401 East McMillan 513-961-2527
- Jim Bouldin, W. J. Williams Branch, YMCA
1228 East McMillan 513-961-7552
The eight components that comprise Vision 2010 were developed by a core group of volunteers who dedicated many hours of hard work to draft this document and the community is very appreciative of their efforts. Their names are listed below.
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