Livable Communities Program, East Bay Community Foundation

Livable Communities Program, East Bay Community Foundation

Fostering Socially Equitable, Environmentally Healthy, Economically viable development across the Bay Area that meaningfully engages diverse stakeholders in the planning and implementation process.

A Place Based Approach that:

Provides and Funds Technical Assistance Convenes and Coordinates Multiple Stakeholders

around key land use issues and processes Provides strategic partnership grants to Cities to

support planning processes Provides grants to support community based

organizations and non profit groups working on sustainable development issues

Doesn’t put unrealistic timeframes or expectations on innovative land use projects that promote positive social and systemic change.

Some Key Projects:

City of San Pablo 23rd Street Specific Plan Nystrom United ReVitalization Effort

(NURVE), Richmond The Great Communities Collaborative, A Bay

Area-wide effort to support Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

City of San Pablo 23rd Street Specific Plan

Build off existing assets of the 23rd Street Corridor to create a vibrant, safe, mixed-use,

pedestrian- and transit-oriented neighborhood. Support locally-owned

businesses, provide public open spaces for community to come together, create housing

choices for diverse residents and foster a safe and comfortable place.

D E S I G N , C O M M U N I T Y & E N V I R O N M E N T

Base map with existing conditions to be inserted

PLAN AREA

Key Elements of Planning Process: EBCF involvement started at the end of 2004 Co-funded Specific Plan involving partnership

between City of San Pablo and EBCF Joint decision making process between City

and EBCF Citizen’s Advisory Committee Walking tour, Developer Panel, multiple

community workshops, presentations AT meetings of key neighborhood organizations

D E S I G N , C O M M U N I T Y & E N V I R O N M E N TCOMMUNITY WORKSHOP#1

Nystrom United Revitalization Effort (NURVE), Richmond

A community-based effort focused on improving the quality of life of children, youth and families in the neighborhood surrounding Nystrom Elementary School and Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Community Center in the Iron Triangle area of Richmond.

EBCF involvement started in Spring of 2003.

Theory of Change:

Catalyzing positive, systemic change in challenged neighborhood through expansion and revitalization of neighborhood assets/built environment and through integration of activities and resources of public agencies

Focus on improving and/or providing needed programs and services in newly constructed or renovated facilities to provide supportive environment for children, youth and families.

Leveraging additional private and public dollars and using existing public dollars most efficiently to best serve needs of community.

Innovative Collaboration Includes: EBCF as coordinator of effort Santa Fe and Coronado Neighborhood

Councils and other key neighborhood groups City of Richmond (All Departments) West Contra Costa Unified School District Contra Costa County Richmond Children’s Foundation Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park

Community Meeting in MLK Center Community Residents.JPG

Success to Date:

Signed letter of agreement among partner agencies and organizations to work together to achieve vision

$26 million allocated for renovation of Nystrom Elementary School

$2.5 million for capital improvements to Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center & Park

$2 million grant from the Calif. Cultural and Historic Endowment (w/ matching grant provided by City of Richmond and WCCUSD)

Over $700k in staff and financial contributions from partner foundations and agencies.

Lessons Learned: It always takes longer than you think Feed people, provide child care, and translation RFP’s and the Scopes of Work need to make

community engagement a priority. City demonstrates commitment by building it into the process

More time allotted for education of key stakeholders on complex issues (TOD, density, affordable housing, parking, etc.)

Be open to the partnership of diverse partners that can help reach out to and engage community residents

More Lessons Learned…

Can’t underestimate the political environment one is working in. Design a process that will help get to the desired outcomes. Often this means more education, tours, workshops on the front end

Is everyone at the table that needs to be at the table? Collaboration is critical, but collaboration is hard and it takes time and flexibility. Build in the time and make sure key stakeholders are represented

Outreach materials and events should be accessible to non-english speaking residents (e.g. in Spanish)

Flexibility is your friend

Livable Communities Program,East Bay Community Foundation

Allison Brooks Program Officer

200 Frank Ogawa PlazaOakland, CA 94612

(510) [email protected]