We have developed a Transformation Plan for the SouthSide and Dry Pond area of Wilmington that focuses on our three core values: Housing, People and Neighborhood. The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) is a project funded through HUD, the Department of Housing & Urban Development, and a long-term effort to revitalize the SouthSide / Dry Pond area of Wilmington, NC. A large part of our plan is to build a Community Resource center that will offer a variety of programs for all ages. We want to address some of the most pressing community issues by focusing on youth and education. Family and community will come together to create a positive environment for development. We are establishing stronger relationships with police and other emergency responders, as well as, addressing some of the infrastructural issues of the area, which include: improving street lighting, adding emergency call boxes, etc. To successfully implement the Transformation Plan, the lead WHA will partner with the City of Wilmington, as well as work with public and private agencies, organizations (including philanthropic organizations), and individuals to gather and leverage resources needed to support the financial sustainability of the plan. These efforts should build community support for and involvement in the implementation of the plan. A Community Development Corporation (CDC) will be formed to spearhead this project, along with five focused Implementation Entities based on our strategies. We are currently applying for the Implementation Grant, which would be the Wilmington Housing Authority's (WHA) and the City's opportunity to fund many aspects of this plan.
Mission: Choice Neighborhoods is focused on three core goals:
1. Housing: Replace distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.
2. People: Improve educational outcomes and intergenerational mobility for youth with services and supports delivered directly to youth and their families.
3. Neighborhood: Create the conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods to offer the kinds of amenities and assets, including safety, good schools, and commercial activity, that are important to families' choices about their community.
