Sample CNI Neighborhood Vision Statements:
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Restablish this in-town neighborhood as a desirable and vibrant mixed-use community that offers
residents and visitors access to a wide range of goods and services. (Springfield, MA)
A safe neighborhood with effective pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular connectivity to economic
opportunities, quality schools and early childhood learning, childcare, quality healthcare, healthy
foods, sustainable affordable housing and quality parks and recreation spaces. (Durham, NC)
The Midtown Kingsport CNI will build upon the legacy of the Nolen Plan and the existing assets of
place and people to create a strong and diverse community of choice, and improve the quality of life
for the citizens. (Kingsport, TN)
Rosewood is a stable, true mixed-income community that respects the different cultures and values
of residents of today and tomorrow. (Austin, TX)
The Oaks at North Intown Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan envisions the transformation
of the distressed West Central Albany community into a viable mixed-income neighborhood with
access to services, public assets and amenities. (Albany, NY)
Kuhio Park Neighborhood is a dynamic and livable urban community, with a balance of residential,
recreational, and employment uses that enjoy high quality transit access and reflect the central
location of the area, along with the rich cultural heritage. (Honolulu, HI)
The guiding vision for the neighborhood is to celebrate the past and present in a healthy and
sustainable environment inclusive of all the residents and businesses that make this place “The
Great City of Opa-locka.” (Opa-locka, FL)
Leveraging our assets, making the right connections…creating a community of choice. The River
District-Railyards neighborhood is a dynamic and interconnected community that is the premier intown living and destination for residents and visitors across the Sacramento region. (Sacramento,
CA)
Transform this important South Norwalk area from an “underperforming asset” into a socially and
economically diverse neighborhood of choice, improving the quality f life for existing residents and
businesses, while maintaining housing affordability, and attracting new residents and businesses to
the area. (Norwalk, CT)
Sample Guiding Principles:
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Preserve the traditional single-family “core” neighborhoods
Create centralized neighborhood activity nodes
Redefine the traditional commercial corridors within the community
Preserve, enhance and create public open space
Encourage homeownership and rehabilitation
Strengthen code enforcement
Create a pedestrian-friendly environment
Create gateways to downtown Columbia
Enhance community identification
Encourage continued community involvement
Construct priority streetscapes
Increase access to parks and open space
Engage in transit-oriented development
Improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility
Honor local stakeholders’ hopes and aspirations for the future
Build upon the neighborhood’s many assets
Respect the nature features of the land the surrounding environment
Improve mobility within the neighborhood and throughout the region for residents
Promote public safety through enhanced resident and police communication and cooperation
Expand employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for local residents
Enhance the physical appearance and functioning of the neighborhood through inspired urban
design and public art
Support greater citizen participation and voice in neighborhood problem-solving, planning, and
design
Sample Public Safety Strategies
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Lighting facades other buildings in the neighborhood
Establish new mini-precinct in neighborhood
Increase pedestrian lighting
Community ownership of crime solutions – creating “play streets”, install porch
lights, block survey of needed safety improvements, Neighborhood Crime Watch
Improved community relations with police – community public safety committee,
block captains, after dark walk home escort system, using social media to
share/receive public safety updates.
Install additional surveillance cameras in strategic locations
Implement public safety initiative funded with Byrne Grant
Engage police in youth activities centered around community center
Work on community building activities focused on crime prevention –
neighborhood cleanup, crime watch, beautification projects, community
celebrations
Support surveillance and reporting of public safety issues in crime hot spots –
heightened patrols and provide safe channels to report concerns
Remedy physical problems associated with crime and disorder – address publiclyowned vacant lots (reuse or prevent dumping), proactive code enforcement with
follow-up
Conduct annual survey to gauge resident perception of safety issues to be
responsive to concerns
Formation of park security patrol modeled after Neighborhood Watch
Identify areas where additional street lighting is needed and participate in capital
planning/budget process to advocate for high priority
PD and FD provide classes and workshops on safety awareness, including property
security, how to identify and report suspicious activity and watching out for your
neighbors
Expand existing PD community programs and partnerships, including neighborhood
watch, involvement of churches, cameras, and community outreach policing
Establish or expand existing community public safety programs – neighborhood
watch, weekly citizen patrol walks, community traffic awareness events, CPTED
Engage residents’ participation in community-wide beautification and public safety
initiatives (install front porch lights, flower box/front yard contests, block-by-block
dumpster days, create a tool-lending library, organize neighborhood crime watch
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Kingsport
Kingsport
Kingsport
Memphis
Honolulu
Opa-locka
Sample Capital Improvement/Infrastructure/Transportation Strategies
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Traffic calming on key thoroughfares – bumpouts, raised crosswalks, turning twoway into one-way streets, narrowing roads and adding bicycle lanes,
Streetscape improvements to encourage walking – trees, benches, sidewalks,
lighting
Redesigned intersections for safer crossing
Traffic signals provide longer crossing times for senior/disabled residents
Deter thru traffic on side streets – speed bumps
Safe routes to school for walkers and cyclists
Improve access to major destinations – taxi/jitney service, seating, lighting, shelter,
and real-time bus arrival information
Provide transit accessible to elderly/disabled – increase awareness of special needs
shuttle
Redirect truck traffic to other access routes
Storm drains cleaned out regularly – “Sewer Watch”
Neighbors committed to protecting and preserving the environment – recycling,
composting, rain barrels, energy efficient appliances, fluorescent bulbs
Improve bus stop by providing shelters and posting information about bus routes
and schedules
Prioritize and coordinate with DPW streets for repaving and sidewalks for repair
Develop and install wayfinding signage to amenities throughout the neighborhood
Mobility enhancement projects including intersection improvements at key spots
New and improved streets to increase connectivity and access
Pedestrian-bike mobility project prioritized as part of City-driven comprehensive
pedestrian-bike plan
Transit enhancements as it pertains to new routes and schedules
Volunteers as Transportation Ambassadors to help people navigate the public
transit system by organizing travel to/from places (grocery stores, health care,
social services, community centers)
City Ordinance requiring new businesses to provide bicycle parking spaces
Main neighborhood thoroughfare put on a “road diet” reducing number of traffic
lanes and installing designated bicycle lanes on both sides of the street
Improve walkability by installing curb cuts on sidewalks, clearly identifying
pedestrian crosswalks, traffic calming at heavily traveled intersections, and
organizing walking groups of children to school
Bus shelters design project with sponsors and collaboration with artists
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Columbia
Columbia
Columbia
Columbia
Kingsport
Kingsport
Kingsport
Kingsport
Memphis
Sample Open Space/Recreation Strategies
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Improve pedestrian access to major parks
Develop indoor and outdoor programming at Community Center responsive to
residents’ needs
Develop bike riding programs to encourage children to use the bikeway – work with
local bike advocacy to pilot learn-to-ride, bicycle repair/maintenance programs
Identify permanent locations for and create community gardens
New community facilities to complement existing community facilities
Enhance existing public neighborhood parks with walking trails, pavilions, picnic
benches, and additional parking
Convert substandard and/or vacant land to parks for community use
Create temporary “oases”/pop-up parks on vacant/underutilized parcels
Newark
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Columbia
Memphis
Albany
Opa-locka
Sample Economic Development Strategies
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Improve access to capital for area small businesses and microenterprises – create
neighborhood CDFI, TA from Small Business Center
2 Work with existing business owners better serve community residents
3 Marketing and branding campaign for the neighborhood
5 City uses RFP process to identify developers for commercial Main Street
6 Market existing façade program and small business loan program to local
businesses
7 Coordinate and support activities of local Business Association – City works with
association to identify new business development opportunities and improvements
8 Consider expanding existing Business Improvement District to include local Main
Street – support capital improvements, security, street cleaning,
pedestrian/streetscape enhancements, marketing efforts
9 Support location of anchor institutions on Main Street
10 Pop-Up Retail initiative to enable businesses to occupy and operate in vacant
commercial space for limited periods of time to activate vacant space and reduce
barriers to entry to the market and test new markets in a low-risk environment
11 Provide programs and classes in the neighborhood to support small business
growth and development such as Small Business Funding Month – Meet the Lender
Business Loan Fair, and events sponsored by banks, legal firms, and other entities to
help potential entrepreneurs understand how to run and grow a businesses
12 Establish a Business Improvement District to target needs of businesses in the
neighborhood
Newark
Newark
Newark
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Memphis
Austin
Opa-locka
Sample Quality of Life Strategies
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Increased code enforcement by City with follow up and information on how to
address violations
Rezoning key locations to mitigate land use conflicts
Hold regular community events to build community spirit and pride – town hall
meetings, neighborhood BBQs, family-oriented programs, community clean-ups,
exercise hour
Encourage sustained institutional involvement by churches
Target City-owned infill and larger parcels for new residential development via RFPs
Prioritize use of HOME funds for homeownership in target neighborhood in the
long-term
Fund homeowner rehab program for existing low-income owners
City to aggressively take court action against distressed buildings and demolish
where necessary
Identification of catalyst redevelopment programs strategically located in
underdeveloped and distressed areas and large enough to make significant
differences in changing the economics of their surroundings
Neighborhood infill strategies – identification of priority areas for redevelopment
incentives or direct property acquisition/new construction and public space and
mobility improvements
Expand access to technology through library card drive to local library
Celebrate the cultural and ethnic heritage of the neighborhood to strengthen and
enhance the neighborhood’s identify and attract new businesses and cultural
institutions (marketing campaign, performing arts/entertainment venue,
neighborhood cultural celebrations/festivals)
“Raise the Roof” program where neighbors come together to assist with home
repairs of other neighbors’ homes
Encourage neighborhood cleanup and maintenance activities on a yearly basis as
part of neighborhood “beautification campaign”
Provide tools and resources necessary for property upkeep, rehabilitation and/or
maintenance
Host neighborhood pride and beautification activities – street clean-up days, install
public trash cans, assist homeowners with applying for home repair loans, install
signage and monuments at gateways, open up places for public art, workshops for
property owners on maintaining properties
Create public spaces that facilitate opportunities for public engagement –
incorporate public art, develop a market pavilion
Develop and adopt a blight ordinance
Newark
Newark
Newark
Newark
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Columbia
Columbia
Memphis
Austin
Austin
Albany
Albany
Honolulu
Opa-locka
Norwalk