In 2010, city departments started to aggressively focus time and resources into neighborhood revitalization efforts across the City at the same time as the Sheboygan Police Department implemented the community policing focus that assigned neighborhood officers to each of the 72 city neighborhoods. At the time, the focus area consisted of the Gateway neighborhood. Streets were reconstructed, street lights were installed, the City’s first neighborhood association was recognized by the City Council, the Gateway Community Garden was constructed and City staff and Habitat for Humanity Lakeside (HFHL) leaders developed the vision of revitalizing Erie Avenue, the gateway corridor to downtown.
Using the neighborhood revitalization strategy established by HUD, the City was able to funnel federal resources into the neighborhood to improve the overall area. Over time, this area has seen crime numbers drop and increased new investment. The demolition of 12 dilapidated homes made room for the construction of the three new homes by HFHL. City staff is close to closing on the remaining homes at North 10th Street and Erie Avenue. Once those homes are transferred, they will be demolished, creating two additional lots for HFHL to build new houses.
One may ask, what is the definition of neighborhood revitalization? Neighborhood revitalization is the idea of enhancing neighborhood resources, economic development, public services and the quality of life for residents. Recently, the Common Council and Department Heads held a strategic planning update session. One of the six goals that was established included neighborhood revitalization. To date, with the help of Sheboygan Neighborhood Pride volunteers, the City has recognized five neighborhood associations and they include: Gateway, Ellis, North Flats, Near North and Indiana Avenue.
The Police Department, City Planning, Building Inspection, Department of Public Works, Forestry and Parks meet bi-monthly to discuss concerns in neighborhoods and action steps to remediate the concerns. Earlier this year, this group identified the need to focus resources in the King Park, Franklin Park and the Flats neighborhoods. The Police Department received a grant to dedicate a beat cop to these areas. A beat cop is a type of policing that develops and utilizes the close relationship with the residents within the assigned neighborhoods to strengthen police effectiveness and encourage cooperative efforts to make a safer community. This action has proven successful and empowered other city departments to address building code violations and enhanced sanitary cleanups. The Forestry Department recently trimmed all the street trees to allow better visibility from street lights and a number of brat with a cop cookouts and neighborhood cleanups have occurred in these areas. All of these efforts on the South-side of Sheboygan continue to enhance this area similar to the past efforts in the Gateway neighborhood.
Starting in 2017, the City’s neighborhood development planner’s work will be re-aligned to provide city staff support in our established neighborhoods. Two years ago, the Mayor’s Neighborhood Leadership Cabinet was established to foster leadership training and strong communication with our established neighborhood associations. The re-aligning of the city planning position will be working hand in hand with our neighborhood associations to develop 10-year neighborhood plans that incorporate both the neighborhood association’s plans as well as the Police Department’s neighborhood plans. This effort hopes to identify activities that our residents can complete as well as long range planning for funneling federal grant dollars to specific projects identified by the neighborhood association. As Mayor, I applaud the efforts currently underway between the city departments, local non-profit organizations and our residents to allow Sheboygan to continue to be a small town community with big city charm. If you are interested in improving your neighborhood, please contact the Sheboygan Planning Department at 459-3377.