The Southwest Area Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan was initiated as part of an on-going effort by community leaders and the City of Delray Beach to revitalize the City's neighborhoods and commercial districts. The plan seeks to identify core strengths and assets that will move the Southwest neighborhoods towards stability and stimulate private sector investment in the area. The plan links housing development and economic development efforts to create positive synergy and take advantage of current development opportunities centered around the West Atlantic Avenue business district.
The organization is structured to ensure that local residents have an opportunity to "drive" the planning and decision making process regarding any major redevelopment activity in and around core West Delray neighborhoods. The Management Team initiated this study to begin a community-driven effort to solve current problems and begin planning for the future of neighborhoods and commercial districts in Southwest Delray. The Management Team coordinated outreach efforts, community meetings and workshops, worked closely with the consultant team to craft and edit the plan document. Members of the Management Team provided valuable insight and clarity regarding community issues and priorities. The principles from which the conceptual design schemes and strategic recommendations included in this plan were derived were based upon the collective input of the Management Team and from input received from community stakeholders that attended the community meetings and workshops.
Implementation of the plan is expected to have profound short-term and long-term impacts on the community. This plan could potentially determine the quality, quantity, and costs of housing and the types of businesses and services located in the area in the future. Automobile & pedestrian circulation patterns would also be altered based upon recommendations included in this plan. The plan also includes detailed strategies to improve landscaping, parks, and other public spaces. The plan focuses on primarily physical improvements, but addresses other elements of community livability such as
public safety, economic development and service delivery strategies.
The concepts and strategies included in this plan are intended to reflect the voices, vision and hopes of the community. Continued collaborative action and diligence will be required by all of the community stakeholders if this vision is to become a reality. The high level of determination and commitment exhibited by the community stakeholders that participated in this process left this writer with little doubt that the community's collective dream of a beautiful, healthy community with a quality housing stock; vibrant commercial centers; and practical and well maintained public spaces can, and will be a reality some day.
Although the user is encouraged to read the Plan in its entirety, the document has been divided into sections to reduce download time and to allow the reader to focus on specific elements.
