Neighborhood of the Year Award

2008 Neighborhood of the Year Award
Results

Grand Prize Winner

North Long Beach CommunityAction Group
Long Beach, California
Project: Back to the Future – The North Long Beach History Project

A diverse community responds to redevelopment plans by conducting a survey of area cultural assets.  Engaging community members in this research, a permanent archives was established, creating an ongoing means to contribute to their community.

Contact: Laurie Angel
Ph:  562/423-7563 E-mail:  langel@csulb.edu

Multi-Neighborhood Project Partnerships

First Place

Stoughton Road Revitalization Project
Madison, Wisconsin
Project:  Stoughton Road Revitalization Project

The Stoughton Road Revitalization Project demonstrates how residents of eight neighborhoods can persuade businesses to join them to achieve sustainable multi-jurisdicational government commitment to better land use planning and neighborhood economic development.

Contact:  Tonya Hamilton-Nisbet
Ph:  608/224-0228, E-mail:  tonyalhn@aol.com

Second Place

Martindale Brightwood Neighborhood
Oasis of Hope Baptist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
Project:  Bridging School and Community

Partnering with the school district and several neighborhood partners, a series of four study circles were held with African American students who are bussed from the Martindale Brightwood and Forest Manor communities to the Perry Township schools.

Contact:  Shirley Alexander
Ph:  317/789-3797, E-mail:  salexander@msdpt.k12.in.us

Third Place

The Preservation Trust of Spartanburg & Hampton Heights Neighborhood Association
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Project:  Carlisle Street Revitalization Project

Two distinctive organizations in Spartanburg, SC prove partnerships are the key to rebuilding a historic downtown neighborhood.  Together, they tackled a successful street-wide revitalization project by building relationships and visioning for the future.

Contact:  Kristi Webb
Ph:  864-542-2282, E-mail:  kwebb@preservespartanburg.org

Finalist

Neighborhoods Commission
San Jose, California
Project:  Citywide Neighborhood Commission

The City of San Jose Neighborhood’s Commission is a civic engagement process comprised of thirty residents, selected by their fellow residents in city-wide neighborhood caucuses, who advise the Council on matter’s of significant community interest.

Contact:  Ernest Guzman
Ph:  408/535-8519, E-mail: ernest.guzman@sanjoseca.gov

Finalist

The Wilmington Community Organization
Wilmington, California
 Project Name: Cruces Project
 
Collaborative effort by LAPD, City Agencies, Resident Groups, Non-Profits, Faith-based Groups and businesses to clean and revitalized neighborhood plagued by gangs and drugs.

Contact:  Mary Gant
Ph:  (310) 626-5946, E-mail:  wilmington.community.org@hotmail.com

Physical Revitalization – Single Neighborhood

First Place

Historic South Park Neighborhood Association
Dayton, Ohio
Project:  2007 Neighborhood Restoration and Redesign

Historic South Park, Inc’s 2007 Neighborhood Restoration and Redesign chronicles the neighborhood initiative that produced the comprehensive architectural redesign of the community and generated nearly three million dollars toward the restoration of blighted homes.

Contact:  Karin Manovich
Ph:  937/461-3534, E-mail: kmanovich@usa.net

Second Place

Bayview Heights Neighborhood Association
Clearwater, Florida
Project:  The Little Neighborhood That Could

“The Little Neighborhood that Could” brings itself out of the depths of despair by handling hurricane damage, safety issues, disrepair and a looming criminal threat from an adjacent county park – all with no money.

Contact:   Greg Mathis
Ph:  727/443-2550, E-mail:  grmath7@aol.com

Third Place

Arlington – West End Neighborhood Association
Birmingham, Alabama
Project:  Elyton Park Restoration

Elyton Park had been in ruins for over 20 years and was a haven for drug dealers.  By partnering with private businesses, the Arlington-West End Neighborhood Association transformed this park into an oasis for families.

Contact:  Keith Aaron
Ph:  205/566-3079

Finalist

Stop Six Sunrise Edition Neighborhood Association
Fort Worth, Texas
Project:  Stop Six Sunrise Historic District Zoning Overlay

The Stop Six Sunrise Edition Historic District Zoning Overlay, solely initiated by the neighborhood association for the purpose of preserving neighborhood historic assets and achieving sustainable development that would enhance and compliment the existing architecture vernacular.

Contact:  Regina Blair
Ph:  817/703-6830, E-mail: rejoblair@hotmail.com

Social Revitalization – Single Neighborhood

First Place

North Long Beach Community Action Group
Long Beach, California
Project: Back to the Future – The North Long Beach History Project

A diverse community responds to redevelopment plans by conducting a survey of area cultural assets.  Engaging community members in this research, a permanent archives was established, creating an ongoing means to contribute to their community.

Contact: Laurie Angel
Ph:  562/423-7563 E-mail:  langel@csulb.edu

Second Place

Old Southwest, Inc
Roanoke, Virginia
Project:  Food with Friends

A proven success, Historic Old Southwest has held a monthly social gathering of neighbors called Food with Friends for over two years.  Hosted with a different theme and household; residents come together and celebrate community.

Contact:  Tim Taylor
Ph:  540/344-4466, E-mail:  timt@vawd.uscourts.gov

Third Place

Hulen Heights Homeowners Association
Fort Worth, Texas
Project:  Social Events Calendar

Anyone can build a house of brick and stone, but our neighbors are the definition of warm, caring graciousness that makes Hulen Heights a great place to live.  We believe that our neighborhood genuinely reflects the community spirit of Fort Worth

Contact:  Cynthia Caldwell
Ph:  817/423-1133, E-mail: hulenheights@gmail.com

Finalist

Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association
Fort Worth, Texas
Project:  Thanksgiving Pot Luck Dinner

How one organization transformed a Thanksgiving dinner into their most important annual neighborhood outreach effort.  Discover the secrets to utilizing your neighbors as resources and creating a successful community-building event that costs next to nothing.

Contact:  Christina Patoski
Ph:  817/738-0330, E-mail:  christinapatoski@earthlink.net

Finalist

Edgewater Drive Neighborhood Association
Clearwater, Florida
Project:  Neighborhood Engagement Initiative

Setting out to find effective and meaningful ways to engage our neighborhood, we developed an interactive family newsletter and several creative initiatives.  Results were amazing growth in membership, neighborhood connectedness, and a collective spirit of achievement.

Contact:  Katie Belniak
Ph:  727/442-0077. E-mail: edgewater04@tampabay.rr.com

Finalist

Walnut Grove Neighborhood Association
Kansas City, Missouri
Project:  Community Social Initiative (CSI)

CSI: Community Social Initiative creates an environment for fellowship for residents in South Kansas City.  Neighbors meet socially for the purpose of building relationships, learning together and encouraging one another.  Creating a New Village!!

Contact:  Ida Griffin
Ph:  816/333-1659, E-mail:  igriffin@hotmail.com

For more information contact
Robert Gibbons
1950 E. Washington Ave., #1
Madison, WI 53704
H: 608-244-0582
Email: robert.gibbons1@charter.net