THE PROCESS
The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative(CNI) seeks to improve neighborhoods through efforts aimed at revitalizing, improving, and investing in a specific community. Experience shows that the most productive approach to achieving this goal is through a process of key community engagement where all present can work together in a cooperative environment.
Therefore, the success of our plan-making is tied to a program of community meetings where all participants know the purpose of each meeting and agree that specific outcomes, products, and approvals must result. This makes the process efficient and respects the time committed by community stakeholders.
The West Oak Neighborhood plan is a two-year process. The Housing Authority and the City of Goldsboro were awarded the CNI planning grant in January of 2023. With the help of the community, the final plan will be completed in December 2024.
We are now entering the plan-making phase of the process…
The complete Plan of Transformation will be composed of three integral sub-plans: People, Neighborhood, and Housing Plan. The Plan Committees play a crucial role in shaping proposals and recommendations that guide the final Plan for Transformation. Throughout the plan formulation process, these committees will review recommendations from each working group and community engagement results to actively contribute to an implementable plan that will lead to neighborhood transformation. Each sub-plan will be prepared through three plan committees. Committees will meet February through April to create a draft plan that will be presented to the steering committee for review and approval before submitting the draft to HUD.
Draft Plan
Take Stock of Existing Input
Plan Committees review input from Working Groups, existing conditions analysis, Resident Needs Assessment data, and Visioning process.
Affirm or revise goals and vision for People, Neighborhood, and Housing.
Strategies, Projects, and Programs
Plan Committees review draft materials provided by Camiros.
Discuss draft strategies, projects, and programs.
Consensus on the strategies, projects, and programs to achieve plan goals.
*All meeting dates and locations will be posted on the Events page
**All meetings will be open to the public!
Refinement of Draft Plan
Plan Committees review draft People, Neighborhood, and Housing Plans.
Assess the prospect of fulfilling goals for each plan.
Suggest improvements and offer new ideas.
Camiros revises Plans based on input and prepares a consolidated Draft Transformation Plan.
The West Oak Neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Goldsboro. The neighborhood is located on the west side of the city and sits a short distance from the downtown area. The neighborhood is generally bounded by US Highway 117, Elm Street, and John Street.
THE PROGRAM
The Choice Neighborhoods program leverages significant public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. Local leaders, residents, and stakeholders, such as public housing authorities, cities, schools, police, business owners, nonprofits, and private developers, come together to create and implement a plan that revitalizes distressed HUD housing and addresses the challenges in the surrounding neighborhood. The program helps communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing severely distressed public and/or assisted housing and catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including vacant property, housing, businesses, services and schools. Choice Neighborhoods is focused on three core goals:
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;
People: Improve outcomes of households living in the target housing related to employment and income, health, and children’s education; and
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.
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans which focused on directing resources to address three core goals: Housing, People and Neighborhoods. To achieve these core goals, communities must develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan. The Transformation Plan will become the guiding document for the revitalization of the public and/or assisted housing units while simultaneously directing the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and positive outcomes for families.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from government agencies, community organizations, residents, and businesses, they coordinate efforts and make collective decisions. The Committee reviews assessments and community input to develop plans to address the housing, people, and neighborhood needs of West Oak. They act as liaisons with external stakeholders, seeking partnerships and input. Regular meetings ensure progress is being made, challenges are addressed, and adjustments made based on community feedback. Monitoring implementation and evaluating outcomes, the Committee strives to transform West Oak into a vibrant and flourishing committee.
Anthony Goodson Jr CEO, HACG
Sharita Oates Director of Administration, HACG
Matthew Livingston Assistant City Manager, City of Goldsboro
Felecia D. Williams Development Director, City of Goldsboro
Howard Sowell Board Chair, Legacy Impact Capital
Patricia Beier CEO, WAGES
Hiawatha Jones City Council, District 1
John Barnes CEO, Rebuilding Broken Places
Sherry Archibald Executive Director, United Way of Wayne County
Scott Satterfield President, Chamber of Commerce
Ken Derksen Executive Director, Wayne County Public Schools
Allison Platt Managing Partner, Regeneration by Design
Edwina Buck Resident Ambassador, West Haven
Sabrina Nolan Resident Ambassador, West Oak