Celebration EventEngagement Report

Development Preferences

Assets + Challenges

Project Preferences

CONTENTS

DEVELOPMENT PREFERENCES

ASSETS + CHALLENGES

PROJECT PREFERENCES

Attendees were asked to vote on a variety of residential, commercial and infrastructure development types.

Attendees voiced their opinions on the assets and challenges of the Mill Creek Neighborhood.

Attendees spoke with members of the project team to give their opinions on potential projects. Some predetermined ideas were prioritized by residents in addition to new concepts.

STATION 1

STATION 2

STATION 3

OVERVIEW & KEY OUTCOMES

THE COMMUNITY IS READY FOR TRANSFORMATION

OVERVIEW

THERE ARE STRONG STAKEHOLDERS

The project team had conversations with residents over the course of the event that emphasized an interest in transforming the neighborhood. Support for potential projects and implementation was overwhelming and echoed this sentiment.

The Mill Creek Choice Neighborhoods Plan Celebration Event was held on Saturday, March 7th from 10am-1pm at the Seminole Boys & Girls Club on Earl Street in the Choice Neighborhood Project Area. Residents of the Huntsville Housing Authority properties were in attendance as well as residents of the Lowe Mill Neighborhood.

Food and games were provided, leading to a joyous event that brought the community together and gave the project team an opportunity reach out to residents of both HHA properties and the neighborhood.

The engagement element of the event was organized into 3 stations that gave residents their first opportunity to give the Planning Team feedback on their community. Topics included development style preferences, the assets and challenges of the neighborhood and preferences for Early Action and Action Activity projects.

Stakeholders around the community came out to support the event. The event made clear how passionate the community is about transformation and growth.

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# 3PEOPLE FEEL A STRONG SENSE OF CONNECTION IN THE COMMUNITYThere are churches and other community facilities in and around the study area that the residents and community use to connect and bond.

This activity presented residents with multiple development types so they could use stickers to rank projects from least desirable to most desirable. Topics included residential housing typologies, commercial development styles, neighborhood infrastructure improvements and community amenities. A few distinct preferences became clear over the course of the exercise, including a preference for higher-density development and more traditional architectural styles. The following pages show the weighted results of the activity.

Development PreferencesEngagement Activity #1

KEY OUTCOMES

THE COMMUNITY IS READY FOR TRANSFORMATION

THERE IS A SLIGHT PREFERENCE FOR DENSER DEVELOPMENT

THERE IS SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN A NEW RECREATION AMENITY

This outcome was more clear in this activity than any other. Although there was variation in opinion on specific development types, there was agreement that change is necessary and welcome.

Although much more clarification is needed from future engagement events, the Celebration event suggested there is a desire for dense urban development, including larger multi-family buildings and mixed-use buildings.

Major interest emerged in new recreation amenities, including ideas such as a basketball court, a playground, and a new indoor rec center.

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SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TOWNHOME RESIDENTIAL

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PREFERENCE POSTER

RESULTS ARE SHOWN ON

THE FOLLOWING PAGES

Traditional SF Home

Traditional SF Home

Traditional SF Home

Traditional Townhome

Traditional Townhome

Contemporary Townhome

Urban Character SF Home

Contemporary SF Home

Contemporary SF Home

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MULTI-FAMILY MIXED-USE COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL

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Contemporary MF Building

Contemporary MF Building

Contemporary MF Building

Large MU Building

Medium MU Building

Small MU Building

Main-Street Style Retail

New Restaurants

New Hotel

NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES OPEN SPACE AMENITIES RECREATION AMENITIES

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New Grocery Store

New Pharmacy

New Bank

Community Garden

Walking Trail

Open Green Space

Basketball Court

Baseball Field

Soccer Field

OUTDOOR AMENITIES STREET AMENITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES

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New Playground

Splash Pad Play Area

Public Art Installation

Streetscape Beautification

Improved Street Lighting

Bike Lanes

Community Center

Indoor Sports Facility

New Laundry Facilities

This activity was designed to encourage residents to begin to think critically about their community by focusing on basic assets and challenges. Generic icons were provided to prompt residents on potential considerations. Although this station yielded less concrete results than activity #1, it was still informative of some overall views of residents.

Assets + ChallengesEngagement Activity #2

ASSETS

CHALLENGES

PEOPLE FEEL A STRONG SENSE OF CONNECTION IN THE COMMUNITY

RESIDENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME

THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND RESOURCES

There are churches and other community facilities in and around the study area that the residents and community use to connect and bond.

Both violent and non-violent crimes are strong concerns of residents. Residents have voiced worry over crime problems in the community. Attendees spoke about drugs, violent crime, vandalism and other forms of criminal activity that plague the community.

Residents of the neighborhood struggle to reach resources. This problem stems from a lack of transportation options, and a lack of high-quality amenities including grocery stores, laundry facilities, libraries and other important assets.

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KEY OUTCOMES

ASSETS

CHALLENGES

The final activity of the Celebration Event gave residents an opportunity to “pay” for potential Early Action Projects and Action Activity Projects. Residents were given $10,000 in “Mill Creek Bucks” (10 bills in $1000 increments) and were asked to pay for the projects based on the potential value of the projects to the neighborhood as they see it. Two types of projects were covered - Early Action Projects and Action Activities. Early Action Projects are smaller projects designed to kick off change in the community. Action Activity Projects are designed to begin true transformation of the neighborhood. In addition to “paying” for some predetermined projects, residents came up with some of their own that will be considered.

Project PreferencesEngagement Activity #3

KEY OUTCOMES

PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE SAFETY WILL BE CRITICAL

ART CAN BE A CATALYST FOR GROWTH

HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE COMMUNITY

Projects related to lighting, pedestrian safety, and street improvement proved to be a high priority among attendees. This very much correlates with concerns about safety in the community, however it is arguable whether a project based solely on safety will be transformative. Still, it does highlight that safety will be an integral consideration going forward.

Art received a moderate to strong amount of interest from residents. There is a strong precedent for the arts in the Huntsville community. A well done art project has the potential to build on past efforts and catalyze future growth.

Handicap accessibility initiatives were brought up by attendees during the event. There is a large elderly population in the study area that will need improved handicap amenities as time goes on.

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POTENTIAL EAPs RANKED

LIGHTING & SAFETY IMPROVEMENTSeminole/Governors Drive Area

STREET BEAUTIFICATIONGovernors Drive

HANDICAPPED RAMPS 2-3 installed in neighborhood

ART MURAL Wall of a prominent building

$176k

$72k

$53k

$36k

$$$ Project

EARLY ACTION PROJECTS

POTENTIAL AAs RANKED

STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMNeighborhood Infrastructure improvement

CREEK RESTORATION/BEAUTIFICATIONInfrastructure improvement

MAJOR PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION Neighborhood branding effort

PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH New facility

HANDICAP RAMPS In large area neighborhood

$102k

$62k

$58k

$43k

$43k

$$$ Project

ACTION ACTIVITY PROJECTS