Group Number Four
 

Facilitator: Amy Barrett Recorder: Virginia Ferriday

 

Question #1—Imagining 10 years from now…

 

Proudest of having kept:

 

• Friendliness between neighbors
• Retaining affordable housing for long-time residents
• Neighborhood venues where there won’t be complaints about noise
• Economic, racial and age diversity
• Locally owned businesses
• Current diversity
• Historic community
• Scale of neighborhood
• Historical values

Change most pleased about:

 

• Trash removal
• More encouragement for use of public transportation
• More parking regulation
• Vacant and abandoned properties brought
• Encouraging local residents to have businesses
• Housing for first-time home owners ($100,000 to $200,000)
• Business incubators
• Retail businesses employing local people
• Multi-unit public parking
• Collaboration of 53 churches on annual venue
• More affordable for very low income
• Building three-bedroom affordable units
• Howard Theater used as performance space
• Good business association
• Rows of businesses
• Rebuilt O Street Market
• Getting rid of hookers

Question #2—Possibly increase density on some sites?

• No increase in density
• Parking is already a problem
• When units are built, they are not affordable
• Increase access to capital and credit
• Work to insure that Section 8 properties remain
• Selected increases of density OK (around Metro stations and warehouses) (People around Metro stations may not need cars)
• Scattered site locations can be developed for affordable housing

Question #3—Assistance needed to support business:

• Business training (i.e. how to create business plan)
• Government access to financing (low-interest and guaranteed loans)
• Affordable retail space
• Keep out national chains
• Educate people about existing opportunities
• Make it easier to get business licenses (streamline process)
• Make Convention Center attendees know about local businesses
• Neighborhood Improvement District (Convention Center chip in, in lieu of taxes)
• Technical assistance, design assistance on how to maintain building with low budget
• Promote businesses locally, not just for tourists