NEIGHBORHOOD SELECTION

So, how do we pick a neighborhood? To boil down all the research and data analysis we do, the short answer is this: we look for the neighborhoods that have the best potential to benefit from what we have to offer. 

High potential neighborhoods

We focus on middle-market neighborhoods. What's a middle-market neighborhood? It can typically be identified by:   

• Having some developing or current assets
• Having some level of existing community cohesion that provides value to residents
• Being at risk of decline due to flat real-estate markets and long-term or recent disinvestments in residential and commercial properties

The risk of decline in these neighborhoods is significant, but with small, targeted, and immediate improvements, they can be stabilized relatively quickly. Unfortunately, these neighborhoods don’t always receive much attention, as they are not strong enough to attract new homebuyers and commercial prospects, yet they're also not weak enough to land on the radars of many funders or development organizations. Hence, middle-market.

But it is these conditions that have us seeing only potential. Our programs create a demand for real estate through home purchases, improve the perception of the neighborhood through physical beautification, and strengthen the social fabric of the community through volunteerism and neighborhood groups. These outcomes combined equate to significant intervention in a middle-market neighborhood when its decline is slow, rather than trying to intervene after the domino effects of disinvestment have taken their toll.  

Neighborhood evaluation strategy

For neighborhood selection, we use a two-part evaluation process that uses both hard and soft data points to paint a complete picture of an area. We collect data including demographics, assets, connectivity, real estate status and trends, economic considerations, and current investments. Beyond data, we work on gaining a better understanding of the community on a ground level. This step involves in-person conversations with stakeholders in the potential neighborhood to learn about community organization, interest and need levels, and potential partnerships.

Taking this data, we use a set of factors to compare areas. These factors include:

• Presence of good or fair quality elementary and high schools
• Level of employment and access to jobs
• Level of safety and crime index
• Presence and quality of amenities such as community centers, parks, and grocery stores
• Presence of an active, organized community with faith organizations, non-profits, and block clubs
• Homeownership rates
• Transportation access
• Market trends and property values

A staff- and volunteer-based committee works together over several months, and after weighing all the factors, makes a recommendation to the board.

Entry

After selection approval by our Board of Directors, it can be a lengthy process to actually begin physical projects due to:

• Developing working partnerships with current residents and community leaders
• The creation of targeted, neighborhood-specific investment strategies
• The slow process of land acquisition that often involves working with several parties

Though the neighborhood selection process is lengthy, it’s the most responsible thing we can do for our program participants, volunteers, and donors. When we commit to a neighborhood, we are committing to a large, multi-year investment focused on improved quality of life for the long term, and having a data-backed process helps improve the chances of success.