In early 2011 the City Council and City Administration had a number of Work Sessions to discuss the need for a program specifically designed to address the City’s over concentration of blighted structures. On May 31, 2011 the City Manager presented a detailed strategy requesting that funding be made available in the City’s FY 2012 budget to begin the process. As a result of the City Manager’s request, the City Council approved some funds for Blight Eradication in the FY 2012 budget that allowed us to conduct a detailed study and analysis of the neighborhood which has become known as the Monument-Berryman Redevelopment and Conservation Area. The Area is generally bounded by Monument, Lee, Berryman, and Colquhoun Streets and was chosen because of its proximity to the River District and, unfortunately, because of its large concentration of blighted and abandoned properties.

We now have a final draft of the plan for public review and adoption by both the City Council and DRHA Board of Commissioners. Our proposed schedule leading up to final Plan adoption is as follows:

• May 12, 2014 the City Planning Commission will receive an overview briefing of the land use and zoning changes that are being recommended in the Plan. This will be a summary briefing, not a public hearing.
• May 22, 2014 a public neighborhood meeting is planned at Mosely Memorial United Methodist Church, 601 Berryman Avenue, to present the Plan and receive public input.
• June 3, 2014 a joint meeting of the City Council and DRHA Board of Commissions to receive a presentation on the Plan will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Conference Room, City Hall.
• June 12, 2014 DRHA Board of Commissioner’s meeting for Plan adoption.
• June 17, 2014 City Council meeting for Plan adoption.

The executive summary provides a brief overview of the proposed plan; however, a hard copy of the entire proposed Plan is also available in the City Manager’s Office, Community Development Office, DRHA Office, and at the main City Library.