Greater Brandywine Village

Greater Brandywine Village
Action Strategy
Wilmington, Delaware

















Prepared by the Greater Brandywine Village Revitalization Inc. with the assistance of community leaders and State and local government officials.


December 15, 1999












Table of Contents

Summary & Major Recommendations
Introduction—Page 3
Location Map—Page 4
Draft Themes—Page 5

Work Session Discussion Results
Economic, Community & Environmental Assets—Page 6
Recognizing Success—Page 7
Alternatives for Action—Page 8
Action Strategy—Page 9

Next Steps—Page 11

For Further Information--11

Appendix A--Attendees


























I. Summary & Major Recommendations

Introduction

Community leaders and State and local government representatives met with representatives from the Greater Brandywine Revitalization Inc. on June 1, 1999 to develop a specific plan of action for Brandywine Villagers to use to conserve important environmental, social and economic values; respond to priority problems; and support community-based initiatives. The participants were assisted by a team of the following outside professional practitioners who donated their time to assist this initiative: Glenn Eugster, NPS/EPA; Joe DiBello, NPS; Michelle Mauthe Harvey, Society of American Foresters; Annie Hillary, NOAA Coastal Zone Management; and Karen Hobbs, USDA-FS/ CEQ.

The work session was designed after discussions and two site visits with Greater Brandywine Revitalization, Inc. leaders. General goals and objectives were and issues were identified for the discussion. The outside practitioners were selected and invited to participate based on the goals, issues and anticipated needs. The Greater Brandywine group identified and invited community leaders and State and local government officials to attend.

The work session began with a brief presentation on the values, goals and issues of the Brandywine Village. A walking tour of the Village followed the presentation and gave residents an opportunity to show the outside practitioners the community and discuss specific assets, issues and ideas.

During lunch the practitioners shared their perceptions of the Village and asked the residents and other attendees about the community, the City of Wilmington and the State of Delaware.

The afternoon discussion focused on: 1) having community leaders identify what they thought success for the Village looked like; 2) identification of alternative actions for achieving that vision of success; and 3) identification of the next steps to carry out the preferred alternatives.

All of the participant responses were recorded on flip charts and presented to addition community, City and State interests at the end of the day.





B. Location Map










































C. Draft Themes

The following summary identifies some specific initial themes for guiding the Brandywine Village Action Plan. These were developed from the information generated at the workshop and are intended to serve as overall objectives for the Action Plan.

A Connected Community: Emphasize linkages with neighbors, businesses, the Police Department, elected officials, the Brandywine River, parks and open space, the City of Wilmington, the State, the Delaware Estuary, and other organizations and places to communicate, secure assistance, maintain desirable qualities, accomplish projects and measure progress.

A Healthy Community: Encourage individual, community, corporate, City and watershed environmental, cultural and economic decisions which are healthy and healthful for the Village, all its residents and its environment.

A Village with a Past and a Future: Conserve and celebrate the heritage of the community and the City and use it’s past to help foster a sustainable, prosperous and enjoyable future.

A Place to Live, Work and Recreate: Maintain, restore and develop a community which is an attractive place for residents of all ages, colors and ethnic backgrounds, businesses and visitors.



















Work Session Discussion Results

The following information reflects the notes taken during the workshop discussion.

Economic. Community & Environmental Assets
Community leaders were asked to identify what assets, values or qualities of Brandywine Village they thought are special.

Lovely trees
Positive neighborhood values
Brandywine River
Parks, memorials, green spaces
Refining character, infrastructure
Themes, stories, religion, belief
Rich history
Connection with City, Brandywine, Estuary
Location, adjacent to vibrant downtown
Components of Village – value each
Areas to ripple out from
Pedestrian route
Anchors
Architecture
River sets area off/defining opportunity
Job Corps Center brings promise revitalizing focus
Continuing commitment of community
Small vacant lots
Number of jurisdictions to create partnerships
Power players (Bank, Junior League, Delmarva Power, Waterworks, Episcopal Church, Delaware Parks, State Senator, Mayor, Director of Redevelopment & Economic Development)
Spear Trust Leadership Grant
Enterprise Zone (part of Village)
Brandywine Gateways, Inc.






Recognizing Success

Community leaders were asked to describe their vision of success for this effort and Brandywine Village.

Housing: 50% of 70 vacant houses rehabbed and/or demolished or rebuilt in 3-5 years. 7 years for others
Sense of identity for people involved
Re-creation of a village atmosphere on Market Street
Start with historic district. This is the touch point for everyone.
Make this place unique
Bring other neighborhood businesses into effort and focus on long history of neighborhood businesses.
Tie into riverfront and park
Clean up the river. Ask state to help put together a plan.
Hub of businesses. Deal with parking
Keep this affordable. Mixed economic activity
Clean historic area key!
Proper lighting
Community policing will help with safety
Be able to cross the street safely (i.e. signs that work) new signs being planned
Change timing of lights to change street use
Trash cans connected to poles
Bring downtown visions into area – clean and safe assistance
Bring trolley into village
More arts/murals, sculptures
A heritage tourism destination with Academy as the visitor center
Improvement of north side of Market Street and Van Dever Ave.
Get rid of metal shutters, ban in district











Alternatives for Action

Community leaders were asked to identify alternative actions, which could be taken to conserve assets, solve problems and achieve goals.

Community Gardens To Bring People Together (i.e. “Green Gardens” in Philadelphia, PA.)
Use grad schools as resource for educating youth (i.e. Yale School of Forestry in Baltimore)
USFS, HUD, American Community Garden Association
City Green program

More Community Dialogue. Use Leadership Training
More focused meetings with government groups. Involve all of community in these meetings
Community gatherings. Use sign-up sheets
Close off Market Street to show connection, agency booths, local businesses, include artists
Find someone to organize an event
Events/activities for community kids. Canvas on Market Street for people to draw/paint what their image is. Put a plan together!
Community fair

Connect To Safety
Use visual identifiers to reinforce village safety
Use signs with unique shapes. Fund with Transportation Enhancement Act 21. Also bumper stickers.
Giver preference to residents for parking.

Use Good News Stories
Newsletters
Festivals
Open home tours

Put up Historical Markers
Have schools help with research, oral histories of seniors

Positive Interactions with Police
Brandywine Village “Cop Cards”
Activities

Identify What Makes this Village Special
Connections
Village with city
People with village
Routes (paths, roads, trails)
Stories
Groups (choirs)
Events (Village Festival at Christmas)

Make a 10-15 Minute Video
Interviews/oral history
Explain plan

Build a Community Here
Takes a neighbor to build a village
Work with a community organizer to get the buy-in
Forums to get input and inform

Sell the Plan

Develop a Partnership Between Citizens and Planners Based on what Local People Care About
Sacred places, workshops (i.e. Maneo, North Carolina video) and free EPA video and manual
“This Place Called Home” CD-ROM
Building communities from inside-out


Action Strategy

Participants were asked to describe the next steps they will need to take to carry out their ideas. Community leaders were asked to identify what actions needed to be taken immediately (i.e. What do I do tomorrow morning?)

Focus on building community and community desire to make change.

Let go of your own vision and focus on the group’s interests.

Who are the recognized community leaders?

Don’t start over – take action, use past plans and commitments. Implement!

Bring people together and show progress (i.e. Organize a festival).

Calls 5-10 key community peoples and talk to them about an action agenda – ask for input and support.
Get key folks engaged!
Use newsletter for input!
Have people carry message!

Identify the things we are going to do to make this a safe neighborhood. Police newsletter available.

Make sure everyone has a copy of “the plan”.

Consider a neighbor survivor guide. Answer frequently asked questions. ID three most popular questions.

Accountability/indicators of progress
· Sub-station
· Newsletter
· Power broker meeting
· Safe neighborhood list
· Walking tour brochure
· Neighborhood group leader meetings
· Matching funds for grant – send letter
· Hire community leader
· 50% rehab including auction of a house
· Spear Trust work advanced
· Advance highway-funding work
· Know funding process in city for HUD funds
· Organize a Brandywine River clean up
or form a river group with Brandywine Park
· Seek assistance from River Network and the Brandywine Conservancy
· Ask Bill Matuszeski, a former resident of Wilmington
and co-author of “Gritty Cities”, to speak to the group
· Publicize and prioritize the plan for Brandywine Park in year 1, 2, 3
· Meet with neighborhoods that have revitalized themselves
· Set priorities for pages 6 & 7
· Use radio and TV to more readily promote success



Next Steps

Secure $13,000 for master plan – has to be city money
· Hire a full-time staff person and take pressure off Senior Center
Identify and secure a building to put staff in
Put together a regular schedule for a newsletter
Go on Channel 22 and publicize the effort
Publicize small victories
Meet with power brokers, involve administrative people, corporations, church, Job Corps and show them a vision (i.e. pretty picture)
· Remember to “Go slow to go fast.”
· Recognize that “It’s not your plan, but the residents’ plan.”


For Further Information

For further information please contact Tom McFalls, Greater Brandywine Village Revitalization Project; c/o Wilmington Senior Center, 1901 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. By telephone call (302) 777-6821.