Neighborhood reinvestment can be contagious. One homeowner fixing a porch or planting some flowers can start a positive chain reaction, giving others the confidence and encouragement to improve their own properties.
The JRC facilitates programs designed specifically to stimulate this cascading effect by providing small grants to groups of property owners for exterior improvements, as well as support for projects that build neighborhood camaraderie.
Through projects, educational programs, and policy support, the JRC aims to:
- Support targeted reinvestment in the city’s housing stock
- Promote beautification through gardening and landscaping
- Explore productive uses for vacant land
- Improve systems for managing vacant and abandoned property
- Encourage proactive and engaged neighborhoods
Renaissance Block Challenge
The Renaissance Block Challenge (RBC) is a neighborhood revitalization program that encourages groups of neighbors (called clusters) to collaborate on exterior curb appeal beautification improvements to their properties in order to build confidence in Jamestown’s neighborhoods and inspire others to reinvest.
Paint Jamestown
Paint Jamestown provides city residents with an opportunity to complement their historic homes by choosing from among the rich history of house colors that existed in 19th and early 20th centuries.
Partner Project: Unite North Main
North Main Street is a major corridor into the City, bringing visitors and regular travelers from Interstate 86 and areas to the north via Interstate 90 into the heart of Downtown Jamestown. As a primary gateway, the physical conditions of the roadway, streetscaping, and other public realm elements as well as building conditions and design have a significant impact on the perceptions of users. A well-maintained and visually appealing corridor invites people into the area and signals to visitors and potential investors that “we care about how we look and this is a place you want to be” – it is this mindset that the City wants to achieve with North Main Street.
Past Projects
Grow Jamestown
GROW Jamestown was a community-wide partnership to promote gardening, landscaping and other greening activities throughout Jamestown.
Mission & Goals
The Neighborhood Committee’s work is guided by the czb Health Neighborhood plans which were adopted by the City of Jamestown City Council in 2010 and incorporated into the City of Jamestown Comprehensive Plan. The Neighborhood plans provide direction for stabilization, growth, and engagement in Jamestown’s neighborhoods. The neighborhood programs and staffing are funded primarily by the Johnson, Lenna, Sheldon Foundation, and Community Foundation. The committee is committed to creating healthy and invested neighborhoods while increasing and/or stabilizing property values.
The committee has identified the following goals and objectives:
- Stimulate and encourage the private sector (homeowners and landlords) to cover the majority of the revitalization cost through healthier levels of maintenance and home reinvestment to aid in the increase of city property values
- Encourage engagement among property owners, tenants, and landlords with the goal to increase community development and neighborhood cohesion
- Create a sense of community pride to encourage property owners to take responsibility and invest in their property
- Advocate with other Housing Agencies to increase owner occupied homes and to stabilize at risk neighborhoods in transitional zones
- Implement goals in the Neighborhood Reinvestment programs.
- Assist in the enhancement of the gateways into the Jamestown community.
- Assist and support City’s Historical initiatives.
- Measurable outcomes should include changes in property values, amount of public/private investment, change in the number of owner-occupied homes, and the number of homes assisted.