The Junction’s Post

Day 4 of a #sharednarrative for #Plymouth: A city at the edge. We believe that viewing Plymouth as a city on the edge allows us to embrace our past, bringing it forward in a positive manner and tapping into the potential found in the transitional #liminal spaces - amidst our dialogue, between people, and between organisations. Exciting! At the edge geographically, at the edge of the ocean, the edge of the county, in the far south west of the country. Practically, at the edge of power and on the edge (including the forefront) of practice. At the edge of intersecting communities, it holds the strengths and tensions and benefits of being a military, university, and working class city all at once. Historically, it has been a valued friend to #power (see its naval history), a neglected friend (see the Plymouth blitz and its silencing) and also a rebellious enemy (see the Siege of Plymouth) of power. A city of many neighbourhoods, it hosts both prosperity and deprivation in differing forms - indeed, where there may not be material wealth there is often community wealth. Welcomeness, civic action, determination, grit and mutual support are a key part of the city’s social character. This is seen in POP’s membership of 380 active and diverse groups and that 26% of adult residents in Plymouth volunteer at least once per month. Full Plymouth Octopus(POP) narrative: https://buff.ly/4dQZbD1 POP learning and thinking: https://buff.ly/4fZAcPG Dark Matter Labs @Annette https://buff.ly/3YSF4Ac Sky Space Team Development Cic @Jen https://buff.ly/3yMsPK #BEMOREPLYMOUTH #fairer #greener #futurism #regenerativefutures #learning #sharednarrative #plymouth #systemconvening #community #grassroots #funding #grantmaking #collaboration

Bethany Presbyterian Church is spearheading a $12.4 million affordable workforce housing development, dubbed the Bethany Project, that will create a community campus with 22 residential units in Spokane's Lincoln Heights neighborhood. https://lnkd.in/gGfAGYqc

NEWS❗Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood is undergoing a major transformation with the Memphis-Pearl mid-rise project. Led by Old Brooklyn CDC and Pearl Road United Methodist Church, the initiative preserves the 100-year-old St. Luke’s Church while adding a six-story, 74-unit apartment building with retail and community spaces. Supported by a $2 million Ohio Brownfields grant, the project includes hazardous material remediation and demolition of outdated structures. It aims to attract middle-class residents with workforce housing, aligning with transit-oriented development along W. 25th Street, while revitalizing the neighborhood and maintaining its historic charm. Read more: https://bit.ly/4gN0rsB Desmone Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation

Residents are reshaping the Town of Riverdale Park's identity through active community engagement aimed at reclaiming the town seal to reflect its evolving values, history, and aspirations. Neighborhood Design Center supported Riverdale Park by: • Engaging youth and residents to uncover what makes Riverdale Park special • Exploring visions for the town's seal through youth activities at Riverdale Park Elementary • Hosting two dynamic community meetings to gather diverse voices The key themes that emerged were 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣—highlighting the importance of celebrating the past, present and future. These projects offer a powerful reminder of how communities can come together to reclaim their past and set an example for towns to chart a path toward the future. The Riverdale Seal redesign was completed by selected artist-Torie Partridge.

"When housing is taken care of, when that basic need is taken care of, we put down roots and allow our families and our communities to grow and to thrive – and to do better.” Growing opportunities for residents to live and thrive. Advocating for equity and opportunity while investing in housing. Strengthening relationships to minimize gentrification and sustain community-owned spaces for BIPOC Bostonians. This is how we advance community wealth. In this video from our Pathways to Equity series, Associate Vice President Soni Gupta and Tanya Hahnel of the East Boston Community Development Corporation discuss the East Boston Neighborhood Trust, which protected the affordability of over 100 housing units in East Boston, and the continuing effort to protect and expand housing affordability in Greater Boston. Thank you to Tanya and the EBCDC team and thanks to EmVision Productions for showcasing the importance of affordable rental housing to allow our community to thrive.

Going vertical is the main solution for the city limits of the alike metropolitan area, new challenge for designers and regulators to bettering overall facilating quality in the higher density micro community.

The Village at Mondawmin is a new development project designed to bring revitalization to Baltimore’s Mondawmin neighborhood. It aims to offer affordable housing, retail spaces, and areas for community engagement. By focusing on long-term sustainability and inclusive growth, the project is set to enhance economic opportunities while fostering a strong sense of community. Explore more about this initiative here: (https://zurl.co/tuNE). BGE, Inc. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Thread, Inc. Baltimore Corps Center for Urban Families

**HUD Check-In: Advancing Our Choice Neighborhood Redevelopment** This week we connected with #HUD for an important check-in on our Choice Neighborhoods Planning initiative. This meeting was a critical opportunity to review milestones, share updates, and ensure our redevelopment efforts stay aligned with the needs of our community and our residents. Key topics included: - Progress on the Housing Plan and People Plan - Updates on Early Action Planning projects like Trowbridge Park and Community Banners - Highlights from our recent charrette, where residents shared their experiences and ideas - Capacity building initiatives, including resident assessments and leadership development - Grant administration updates, including proposed revisions to the budget and schedule These discussions reflect our ongoing commitment to collaboration and transparency as we transform our neighborhood into a vibrant, sustainable community. While there’s still much to accomplish, we are on an exciting path toward meaningful change! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue making progress! #ChoiceNeighborhoods #HUD #CommunityDevelopment #ResidentEngagement #BuildingBetterCommunities #EmpoweringResponsibleDevelopment

The Village at Mondawmin is a new development project designed to bring revitalization to Baltimore’s Mondawmin neighborhood. It aims to offer affordable housing, retail spaces, and areas for community engagement. By focusing on long-term sustainability and inclusive growth, the project is set to enhance economic opportunities while fostering a strong sense of community. Explore more about this initiative here: (https://zurl.co/tuNE). BGE, Inc. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Thread, Inc. Baltimore Corps Center for Urban Families

Today marked my second appearance before the Select Committee on Capitol City Revitalization at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi. During the hearing, I had the privilege of presenting the Jackson Redevelopment Authority's (JRA) newly proposed strategy to address the need for affordable housing in neighborhoods suffering from years of disinvestment. JRA’s Infill Housing Revitalization Program (IHRP) is designed to transform underinvested neighborhoods within the City of Jackson by eliminating abandoned, dilapidated, and unsafe properties that contribute to slum and blight. Through this program, JRA will lead the charge in replacing these structures with high-quality, affordable infill housing, creating a foundation for neighborhood revitalization. The IHRP is not just a housing initiative; it is a catalyst for improving the quality of life for residents and fostering economic development citywide. The State of Mississippi is currently exploring innovative solutions to support neighborhood revitalization efforts. JRA has been identified as a critical partner, leveraging its expertise and strategic vision to address systemic challenges in distressed communities efficiently and effectively. Through the IHRP and other initiatives, JRA reaffirms its commitment to leading transformative change in Jackson, serving as a driving force for sustainable urban redevelopment and community empowerment. #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityBuilder #LeadershipMatters #TheStandard