Community Meeting (June): Draft Plan

About 30 people attended Community Meeting #5 which was hosted on Saturday, June 14th at the Wainwright Manor Courtyard (5601 Gibson Blvd).

The goals of the meeting focused on:

• Reviewing the Draft Plan goals, strategies and projects on the three elements: Neighborhood, Housing and People, and

• Reviewing updates on the Early Action Activities and get residents involved in art workshops to beautify the International District and the target housing sites.

The meeting utilized an interactive format, featuring engagement stations with materials

and prompts designed to gather resident input on key aspects of the Draft Plan and

community priorities.

For the People Element, residents continued refining the projects outlined in the Plan and engaged in conversations providing feedback on what strategies they thought would have the most positive impact.

Some key highlights focused on Education, Health and Income, prioritizing these projects:

• Partnering with Center for Southwest Research Library

• Having access to Wi-Fi connections

• Accessing healthy food options and fitness training classes

• Having an exercise room in the community space or outdoors

• Having delivery for healthy food options (i.e. Meals on Wheels)

• Wi-Fi connection for medical devices

• Partnering with a program for seniors for job training

• Day to Pay program would help unhoused residents earn some money

• Credit to purchase a home and financial literacy

Meeting participants reviewed the housing concept proposals and provided feedback about broader goals and strategies as well as types, open space, and amenities for the redevelopment of Grove Apartments and Wainwright Manor.

Key housing features desired are:

• Good natural lighting

• Open spaces for supporting a healthier and more enjoyable living environment

• Address sound transmission between units

• Ensured safety through fencing and design features

The top residents' priorities for housing projects are :

• Creating more accessible sidewalks and environments for seniors

• Programs that support first-time homebuyers, including education on homeownership, and financial assistance

• Increasing access to essential services such as grocery stores, senior centers, and

  pharmacies for the unhoused population

• More shelters evenly distributed throughout the neighborhood

Residents also used an interactive map of the International District to locate neighborhood projects in key focus areas and add other improvements they deemed important. Additionally, they shared ways to activate community spaces, identified neighborhood areas in need of cleaning, and landmarks that could be celebrated with public art and wayfinding.

The top recommendations were:

• Creating a community garden at Phil Chacon Park 

• Increase programming such as cooking classes, board games, and movie nights

• Setting up spaces for recreation like a basketball court

• Community clean-ups at parks, major corridors and public pools within the planning area

• Celebrate Central Ave as with public art, as well as key locations around the Southeast of the International District

Regarding Early Action Activities, residents provided feedback for Wainwright, Pennsylvania and Grove and shared ideas for the art panels design while learning how to get involved when implementing these improvements.

Other insights included:

• Incorporating the New Mexico desert landscape as part of the art themes

• Featuring a Three Sisters Garden, focusing on growing traditional crops

• Outdoors and indoors exercise equipment, as well as designated spaces for different sports

  
  

As part of our engagement agenda, the Choice Team popped up on Friday at The International District Library to engage nearby residents with the interactive map of neighborhood key projects.

Lastly, as the planning process has come to a major milestone, boards describing the three aspects of the draft plan were attached to the fences surrounding the three housing sites to bring about more awareness of the Choice Neighborhood Plan. There was a QR Code embedded on the boards to help receive feedback and comments from the broader community in The International District.

A big shoutout to our community ambassadors and everyone who collaborated with enthusiasm on this event. Our last community meeting is scheduled for September. We hope you join us to celebrate and see how far we have come with your input! Stay connected.