Take Back Your Neighborhood(Part 1): Transitioning a Block in New Direction

                    *This is the first of a 3-part Series on Neighborhood Revitalization*

 

So, you are thinking about moving closer to the City. But all the “hot hot hot” neighborhoods are “way way way” out of your range. And there seem to be so many neighborhoods that just aren’t viable enough. Do you say to yourself, “why don’t they do something about those blocks?” ? To that I say, have you thought about living on a transitioning block? Yeah. A transitioning block–one that is making its way toward 100% viability and close to some cool amenities, but not nearly ”hot hot hot” yet.

I live on a transitioning block.  While some might say, ‘aren’t most cities ‘transistioning’ (with the exception of the usual NE and West Coast culprits), I mean something different then the PC definition of transition which often means ”barely hanging on”.  My definition of  ”transitioning” is a block that is on the edge of going up or down and generally on the edge of gentrification and the hood.  In some cities, including my fair city of Baltimore, living on a transistioning block can cost you a lot less then your “block or two away” gentrified neighbors and give you a nice home to boot.  

 Living on a transitioning block is not for the faint of heart, or the newly city-bound long term suburban dweller. But, I do think the benefits long out way the challenges.  To that end, I have listed a few things you should know to make living on a transitioning block a rewarding experience.

1. Pick the right block.  This clearly is the most important thing. How do you know which block is the right one? Go see some homes renovated by an investor. Use a Realtor who specializes in the neighborhood.  I found a woman who only invests in my community–both in the center of gentrification and my edge block. She knew the neighbors, where things were, etc. I knew the block had potential when I saw a number of homes completed or under construction on the street. I found out if there was a community association near by.  I saw that I could to all of the yuppie shops, the grocery, and the hardware stores and most of the vacant properties were 2/3rd’s down the block from me and were quietly being renovated as well.  And I look at the values of comparables 1 1/2 blocks away. My house is $20-30k less than the houses a block and a half away.  Not too shabby.
2. You must be prepared for things to happen that might not make you happyas far as some of your neighbors are concerned. There will definetely be some foolishness that might occur–though much less than another block that clearly is south of transitioning as defined here.  I’m not necessarily talking about crime. On my particular block, until recently, the children seemed to be out in the street way later in the evening then seems normal. But that seems to be changing as it becomes apparent that a few other new folks don’t allow their kids to do so. And some of the residents have been calling the neighborhood liason about noise in the late evening hours.  
3. If you don’t want it to be “us versus them”, Get to know your neighbors. Introduce yourself to the folks to the left and right and across the street. When your neighbors know you, they look out for you. If you get lucky, you’ll get a Ms. Juanita as a neighbor who seems to love to feed me.
4. Be visible. There are a few knuckleheads who mill about on my block at the opposite corner. They see me and our other neighbors picking up wayward trash, sweeping our stoops, putting out flowers (and watching them while we do it) and it seems that they have stopped hanging out so much. Visibility that shows you care is important.
5. Be involved.You have to be willing to put your mouth and your money together. If you are simply going to lament about why the neighborhood is not improving as fast as you like–then you should probably come up with an alternative. Find out if their is a block association and get involved.  If there isn’t one, and you are not the organizing type, find out if there is a larger active neighborhood wide association. While we don’t have a block association,  we do have is a project called Jacob’s Ladder on the corner that is sort of our de facto association and we benefit from the Neighborhood Improvement Association. They have granted funds to our block for the purchase of evergreen bushes and flowers, helped us be included in the Charles Village Improvement District.  Everyone who comes down the street says, “Wow, you all are really turning this block around.”
6. Walk around and be Aware.It’s good to know what is going on. What is under construction, if there seems to be a trash issue occuring.

Do this and watch the benefits fly–not overnight, but you will little by little notice the change.  In our case, the changes on our block have encouraged a little bit of change on a neighboring block that is a little further behind the curve than we.  In the end, its all about us being the “they” that “does something about it”. And it pays off both socially and in your pocket.