HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7349 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7349 P•1
February 7, 1989
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
UAt
-1) Subject:
'071,
HEMPHILL COR&1291L,
BACKGROUND:
The Hemphill Corridor is located immediately to the south of
downtown Fort Worth. Hemphill Street begins on the north at
Vickery Street and extends to South Loop 820/1-20. The Cor-
ridor project area includes fourteen blocks to the east and
west of Hemphill Street (seven blocks on each side) . The
Hemphill Corridor is very unique, in that , it includes six
neighborhood associations , two Neighborhood Advisory Coun-
cils , three business associations and a historical society .
No other area in the City is as rich with neighborhood ,
business , and historical organizations as the Hemphill Cor-
ridor.
THE PLANNING PROCESS
On October 31 , 1989 a Community meeting was held in response
to concerned citizens of the Southside who shared a common
interest in the enhancement of their neighborhoods and
commerical areas along the Hemphill Corridor. The purpose of
this Town Hall meeting was to initiate a dialogue between
citizens and City Hall . The first step in the planning pro-
cess involves working with the neighborhoods , public schools ,
churches and the business community to identify the sig-
nificant problems in the target area.
An "issues oriented" planning process was used whereby the
Hemphill Corridor citizens group identified the concerns and
problems related to the proliferation of code violations ,
crime, drugs, prostitution, gang activity, boarding houses ,
transients , vacant/problem buildings and the restoration of
the target area. In a second meeting these issues were pri-
oritized. The input revealed issues that were divided into
four major categories : Social , Housing, Crime and Economic
Development . From this meeting of representatives from four-
teen community groups , the Hemphill Corridor Task Force was
formed.
The Hemphill Corridor Task Force is currently recruiting ad-
ditional representatives from all organizations to serve on
this planning committee. This phase will be followed by a
planning session where an action plan with goals and objec-
tives will be developed to provide direction to city staff to
OPL ensure success in implemention of specific projects and pro-
grams.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 734-0 p..2
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 7, 1989
Subject: HEMPHILL CORRIDOR
THE ACTION PLAN
In order to formulate an action plan, measurable goals and
objectives will be established on a priority basis . Due to
the nature of the issues identified by this citizen's group,
it would be extremely difficult for any one city department
or agency to have a significant effect on all their concerns .
A city staff Task Force Response Team was established by the
City Manager to address those issues in which the City would
have an opportunity to directly impact .
The City's Task Force Response Team is comprised of eleven
( 11 ) city departments . The Hemphill issues are being ad-
dressed on a three-fold process : ( 1 ) enforcement of existing
regulations and city ordinances , ( 2 ) review of existing code
regulations , ordinances , permit issuance and renewals , ( 3 )
proposed implementation of special community projects and
programs , economic development and re-development proposals ,
and updating city departments permit tracking systems to com-
puterized systems ( e.g . fire, health, assembly, code enforce-
ment , etc. ) .
The Hemphill Corridor project is an innovative prototype
project that will allow the city to examine and address is-
sues that are shared by other sections of the city. This
unified effort demonstrates the continuing partnership be-
tween neighborhoods , the public and private sector and the
City of Fort Worth which has gained local , state and national
recognition.
This report is a brief overview of the Hemphill Corridor
project , a project with a vision to enhance not only the
city's southside but all other neighborhoods that share these
same issues. If you have any questions , please contact
Jodi Eubanks , Assistant to the City Manager. If the City
Council desires any additional information it will be pro-
vided upon request.
Sincerely,
Dou as Harman
City Manager
�ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS