FORTify - East Central Listening Tour

East Central Neighborhood – Listening Tour Results

East Central Listening Effort - Tour Tallies Number of people/ households participating: 90 (3.3%) • •

83% of participants 13+ 17% 12 and under

(Representative given that 17% of neighborhood is under the age of 14)

Number of issues brought up (across all categories) Door to Door: 144 • Dreams: 55 • Assets: 29 • Liabilities: 60

Block Party: 138 • Dreams: 55 • Assets: 35 • Liabilities: 49

Postcards: 15 • Dreams: 20 • Assets: 4 • Liabilities: 2

Quantity of votes (across all categories) Door to Door: 224 • Dreams: 83 • Assets: 60 • Liabilities: 81

Block Party: 200 • Dreams: 77 • Assets: 67 • Liabilities: 56

Study Dates: June & August, 2023

I

Volunteers: 10

(Volunteer Partners Orgs: Ambassador, Girl Co., Indiana Tech, NPAW, East Central)

Postcards: 58 • Dreams: 50 • Assets: 6 • Liabilities: 2

East Central Listening Tour Overview – Engagement Events

Door to Door Survey

Block Party (Adults/ Teens)

Block Party (Youth)

43 (households/ surveys)

6 quizzes completed 84 input points (fill-in boards) 235 dots (dot boards) 32 surveys

14 Postcards

2023 East Central Listening Tour Overview – Tools Used & Purpose Surveys

Postcards

43 Door to door surveys 32 Block Party surveys

15 Youth

(Adult Engagement to determine focus areas)

June & August

Quizzes

Fill-in & Dot Boards

6 Adults

84 input points 235 dots

(Youth Engagement to determine focus & projects)

(Assess understanding of neighborhood basics & conditions; gauge reaction)

(Types of projects & Education about Neighborhood)

August

August

August

Quiz Results – Understanding & Community Response

East Central Listening Tour Overview – Quiz Outcomes: Understanding of Neighborhood & Stats Boundaries: 0% Fully Correct Crime Rates: 50% Correct • 0% - increased • 50% stayed the same Households: 50% Correct Number of People: 33% Correct (incorrect answers assumed fewer people) Occupied Houses: 50% Correct • 33% assumed higher right • 17% assumed lower

Identity of Sam Hanna: 50% Correct Who donated Hanna Homestead Park : 17% Correct

East Central Listening Tour Overview – Quiz Outcomes: Response to event & data Learned something new: 50% yes, 33% no, 17% no response

UPDATE

What surprised you most • 17% No response • 17% New play area • 17% How many people live in the neighborhood • 17% The History • 17% The water ways in the city What you wish people knew: • 33% - We’re a family-oriented community/ the best in Fort Wayne, A great place for kids.

• 17% - The History and how peaceful it is • 17% That it was the mecca of the melanated community at one time • 33% No response

Likelihood of coming to future events • 67% - 10 • 17% - 9 • 17%- 8 Future Event Feedback • More carnivals • Meet and greets with police to create understanding

Likelihood of inviting neighbors to future events • 67% - 10 • 17% - 9 • 17%- 7 • •

Farmers market in the par Block Party & Recognition

East Central – Survey Results

Top Concerns of each Listening Group

Door to Door (Adults) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Care/ Respect Aesthetics Phonesthetics Safety Amenities Infrastructure

43 surveys

Block Party (Adults)

Block Party (Youth)

1.

2.

1.

1.

2.

3.

4.

3.

4.

Care & Respect Belonging & Connectedness Infrastructure & Inf. Maint.

Safety & Crime Reduction

32 surveys

Recreation Housing Amenities Green Infrastructure Sun/ Sunshine

15 postcards

Top Concerns in each area overall Overall Tally 1.

2.

3.

Care/ Respect Aesthetics Phonesthetics

4.

5.

6.

Dreams 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Housing Recreation Infrastructure & Inf. Maint.

Safety & Crime Reduction Aesthetics

Safety & Crime Reduction Amenities Housing

8.

Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance Recreation

Assets

Liabilities

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

4.

5.

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio

7.

Care & respect Phonesthetics Belonging & Connectedness Amenities Safety & Crime Reduction

2.

3.

3.

4.

5.

5.

Photo Credit: Bilal Karadag

Aesthetics Inf. & Inf. Maintenance Safety & Crime Reduction Belonging & Connectedness Care & Respect Housing Food Access Phonesthetics Photo Credit: Lucas Souza

Our Dreams for East Central Our neighbors listed the following as the qualities they most want to see in their dream neighborhood: Housing, Recreation, Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance, Safety & Crime Reduction, Aesthetics, Amenities, and Care & Respect.

- Housing & Density (15%): More, newer, or more well-maintained homes; affordable opportunities for homeownership and rent; higher density buildings; people living without fear of eviction

- Recreation (13%): Water features (like pools, splashpads, and wave pools); More play and sports equipment (basketball, baseball, swing set, places to kid bikes; more kid-friendly options with seating nearby - Public Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance (11%): Improved park; more streetlights; improved street signage (kids at play, stop signs) and traffic lights; street improvements including curbs above ground, and improved pavement; repaired and replaced sidewalks; clean alleys

“The neighborhood of my dreams would be [full of] UNITY ” East Central Neighborhood Adult

- Safety & Crime Reduction (10%): Feeling safe; less crime (including violence, shootings, and killings); Clean and safe space for kids and all neighbors; modified police patrol (some neighbors would like to see fewer patrols, some would like to see more interaction with officers and residents – either talking or on bikes) - Aesthetics (10%): Clean neighborhood with less trash (well-manicured lawns, weed-free easements); flowers, lots of flowers

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio

East Central’s Vision

Dream Tally (more than 13 people) 1- Housing 3- Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance 4- Aesthetics 6- Care & Respect

2- Recreation 4- Safety & Crime Reduction 5- Amenities

Top Dreams by percent (13+) 1) 2) 3) 4)

Housing – 15% Recreation- 13% Infrastructure & Inf. Maint. – 11% Safety & Crime Reduction – 10%

4) Aesthetics– 10% 5) Amenities– 9% 6) Care & Respect – 8%

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio

Top 4 Dreams

East Central’s Vision

Dream Tally (more than 13 people) 1- Housing 3- Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance 4- Aesthetics 6- Care & Respect

2- Recreation 4- Safety & Crime Reduction 5- Amenities

Top Dreams by percent (13+) 1) 2) 3) 4)

Housing – 15% Recreation- 13% Infrastructure & Inf. Maint. – 11% Safety & Crime Reduction – 10%

4) Aesthetics– 10% 5) Amenities– 9% 6) Care & Respect – 8%

Dream Tally (Top 5 Dreams– 17 people or more) 1- Housing 3- Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance 4- Aesthetics

2- Recreation 4- Safety & Crime Reduction

Top Dreams by percent (top 4) 1) 2) 3) 4) 4)

Housing – 15% Recreation- 13% Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance – 11% Safety & Crime Reduction – 10% Aesthetics– 10%

1) Housing & Density

Houses/ full of homes Higher density, multiple stories (commercial and residential) Affordable housing & rentals Homebuying help; everyone owns property

2) Recreation

3) Inf. & Inf. Maintenance

Water features (pool, splashpad, kid pool, water park, diving board, seating near pool) Play equipment (for kids or in park) like swing sets and slides More kid friendly/ activities for kids Basketball court/ hoops Bikes/ Places to ride bikes

4) Safety & Maintenance

Top 4 Dreams

Improved & clean sidewalks: repaired, shoveled Lighting: more & better Streets: Better, clean, curbs above ground Park: improved, revitalized Signs: Better & Kids at play Add traffic lights Add stop signs (where kids play) Clean alley Better sewage

4) Aesthetics Dream Tally (Top 5 Dreams– 17 people or more) 1- Housing 3- Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance 4- Aesthetics

2- Recreation 4- Safety & Crime Reduction

Top Dreams by percent (top 4) Safety: Feeling, being safe; safe & clean; safe for kids Fewer crimes: shooting, break-ins, violence Police: Less police patrolling Police: Officers on bikes talking to people

Clean, Less trash, smell fresh Curb appeal Lawns: Nice, manicured Flowers; lots of flowers Streets: sweeping, Care of easement/ weeds Very beautiful

1) 2) 3) 4) 4)

Housing – 15% Safety & Crime Reduction- 13% Infrastructure & Inf. Maint. – 11% Phonesthetics – 10% Aesthetics– 10%

“We look out for one another. We protect

East Central’s Biggest Strengths Our community’s top ranked assets include: Care & Respect, Phonesthetics, Belonging & Connectedness, Amenities, Safety & Crime Reduction, Aesthetics, Green Infrastructure, and Joy. - Care & Respect (29%): Great neighbors who look out for, protect, share sugar and tools with one another; teamwork - Phonesthetics (24%): It’s a quiet, peaceful, calm neighborhood - Belonging & Connectedness (18%): There’s a great sense of community and unity, everyone knows everyone; my neighbors are my second family (we uplift, feed, and clothe one another); We live here; There are interested and engaged neighbors - Amenities (10%): Proximity to downtown; churches; Indiana Tech - Safety & Crime Reduction (6%): It feels safe; I feel safe; no crime

one another. I have good neighbors. I have lived her for 17 years.”

East Central Neighborhood Adult

East Central’s Assets

Asset Tally (2 people or more/ top 6) 1- Care/Respect 3- Belonging & Connectedness 5- Safety/ Crime Reduction 6- Green Infrastructure

2- Phonesthetics 4- Amenities 6- Aesthetics 6- Joy

Top Assets by percent (2+) 1) 2) 3) 4)

Care/Respect – 29% Phonesthetics – 24% Belonging & Connectedness– 18% Amenities- 10%

5) 6) 6) 6)

Safety/ Crime Reduction- 6% Aesthetics- 3% Green Infrastructure - 3% Joy- 3%

East Central’s Assets

Top 5 Strengths

Asset Tally (2 people or more/ top 6) 1- Care/Respect 3- Belonging & Connectedness 5- Safety/ Crime Reduction 6- Green Infrastructure

2- Phonesthetics 4- Amenities 6- Aesthetics 6- Joy

Top Assets by percent (2+) 1) 2) 3) 4)

Care/Respect – 29% Phonesthetics – 24% Belonging & Connectedness– 18% Amenities- 10%

5) 6) 6) 6)

Safety/ Crime Reduction- 6% Aesthetics- 3% Green Infrastructure - 3% Joy- 3%

Asset Tally (Top 5 Assets- 5 people or more) 1- Care/Respect 3- Belonging & Connectedness 5- Safety/ Crime Reduction

2- Phonesthetics 4- Amenities

Top Assets by percent (5+) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Care/Respect – 29% Phonesthetics – 24% Belonging & Connectedness– 18% Amenities- 10% Safety/ Crime Reduction- 6%

1) Care/ Respect

Care: Nice neighbors who look out for one another Clean/ people maintain their area

2) Phonesthetics

Quiet/ Calm/ Peaceful

4) Amenities

3) Belonging & Connectedness

Top 5 Strengths

Sense of Community/ Unity We know (most) our neighbors Interested & engaged neighbors People/ one another It's a family

5) Safety & Crime Reduction

Asset Tally (Top 5 Assets- 5 people or more) 1- Care/Respect 3- Belonging & Connectedness 5- Safety/ Crime Reduction

2- Phonesthetics 4- Amenities

Top Assets by percent (5+) Proximity to downntown (and downtown development) Churches Indiana Tech

It feels safe No crime

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Care/Respect – 29% Phonesthetics – 24% Belonging & Connectedness– 18% Amenities- 10% Safety/ Crime Reduction- 6%

“Needs lots of money to make it better.”

East Central Neighborhood Youth

“Fix sidewalks & try to attract more mom & pop businesses and restaurants (the sit-down kind).

[Help with] the food desert in this area.”

East Central Neighborhood Adult

East Central's Biggest Challenges Our community’s top challenges include a need for more- or improvedAesthetics, Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance, Safety & Crime Reduction, Belonging & Connectedness, Care & Respect, Housing, Food Access, Phonesthetics. See the description below for additional details: -

Aesthetics (17%): cleaner (remove litter, trash, and broken glass, and beer bottles); Alley and vacant lot clean up; fewer burnt items near railroad; less student lettering; more trashcans

-

Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance (12%): Better lighting; Better streets; more street signs, improved sidewalks; cleaner water; strengthen electrical grid

-

Safety & Crime Reduction (12%): Reduce homeless break-ins (especially of cars but also of homes); Reduce children fighting and trespassing; More officer patrol; Improve safety

-

Belonging & Connectedness (10%): Build better relationships with one another; More community love, unity, togetherness and interaction; Get everyone to work and worship as a family; Celebrate history more (as black neighborhood)

-

Care & Respect (10%): More friendliness, awareness, and helping of neighbors; Invest in people; stop youth from trespassing; better maintained community garden

East Central’s Opportunities

Liabilities Tally (more than 5 people) 1- Aesthetics 2- Safety & Crime Reduction 3- Care & Respect 5 - Food Access

2- Infrastructure & Inf. Maint.

3- Belonging & Connectedness 4- Housing 5 - Phonesthetics

Top Concerns by percent (5+) 1) 2) 2) 3)

Aesthetics - 17% Inf. & Inf. Maintenance- 12% Safety & Crime Reduction- 12 % Belonging & Connectedness- 10%

3) 4) 5) 5)

Care & Respect.- 10% Housing- 6% Food Access- 5% Phonesthetics– 5%

East Central’s Opportunities

Top 3 Concerns

i

Liabilities Tally (top 3 liabilities- 8+ people) 1- Aesthetics 2- Safety & Crime Reduction 3- Care & Respect

Liabilities Tally (more than 5 people)

2- Infrastructure & Inf. Maint..

3- Belonging & Connectedness

1- Aesthetics 2- Safety & Crime Reduction 3- Care & Respect 5 - Food Access

Top Concerns by percent (8+) 1) Aesthetics - 17% 2) Inf. & Inf. Maintenance- 12% 2) Safety & Crime Reduction- 12 %

3) Belonging & Connectedness- 10% 3) Care & Respect.- 10%

2- Infrastructure & Inf. Maint..

3- Belonging & Connectedness 4- Housing 5 - Phonesthetics

Top Concerns by percent (5+) 1) 2) 2) 3)

Aesthetics - 17% Inf. & Inf. Maintenance- 12% Safety & Crime Reduction- 12 % Belonging & Connectedness- 10%

3) 4) 5) 5)

Care & Respect.- 10% Housing- 6% Food Access- 5% Phonesthetics– 5%

Top 3 Concerns

2) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance

1) Aesthetics

Cleaner, less litter and broken glass Vacant lot maintenance and gardens Alley cleanup Elimination of blight Less student litter/ beer bottles More trashcans

Better/ more lighting Better/ streets Better sidewalks Better street signs Cleaner Water

3) Belonging & Connectedness

2) Safety & Crime Reduction

Break-ins (cars, homes, homeless involvement) Unsupervised, fighting and trespassing youth Corner store is awful (cars on grass, cameras) Improve safety More officer patrols No walking/ talking

3) Care & Respect

Liabilities Tally (top 3 liabilities- 8+ people) 1- Aesthetics 2- Safety & Crime Reduction 3- Care & Respect

2- Infrastructure & Inf. Maint..

3- Belonging & Connectedness

Top Concerns by percent (8+) 1) Aesthetics - 17% 2) Inf. & Inf. Maintenance- 12% 2) Safety & Crime Reduction- 12 %

3) Belonging & Connectedness- 10% 3) Care & Respect.- 10%

More Unity, Love, Togetherness Corporate worship, stronger relationships More Community interaction, collaboration Celebrate history more (as black n'hd)

More friendliness & awareness Investment in people/ helping Better maintained community garden No college student neighbors Stop kids from trespassing

Summary of Listening Tour Results When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus in the East Central neighborhood include: Care & Respect, Aesthetics, Phonesthetics, Safety & Crime Reduction, Amenities, Housing (& Density), Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance, and Recreation.

Top Dreams by percent (top 5) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Housing – 15% Recreation – 13% Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance- 11% Aesthetics- 10% Safety & Crime Reduction- 10%

Top Assets by percent (top 5) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Care & Respect – 29% Phonesthetics – 24% Belonging & Connectedness- 18% Amenities- 10% Safety & Crime Reduction- 6%

Top Concerns by percent (top 3) 1) Aesthetics- 17% 2) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 12% 2) Aesthetics- 12% 3) Care/ Respect – 10% 3) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance- 10%

Overall Summary Residents of the East Central Neighborhood appreciate their current culture of support and mutual respect but aim to enhance these qualities through improved courteous behavior, property maintenance, and community investment. While valuing their neighborhood’s cleanliness and peaceful atmosphere, they also seek to address challenges such as litter, noise disturbances, and safety concerns, including crime and trespassing.

In terms of amenities, East Central residents desire convenient access to shops, grocery stores, and schools within walking distance, with a preference for fewer gas stations and liquor stores. They also call for more recreational facilities, including sports equipment and water features. Housing aspirations include newer, wellmaintained homes, increased density, and reduced reliance on Airbnb properties, coupled with support for affordable homeownership and rental assistance.

Residents also emphasize the need for improved infrastructure, such as better park facilities, street lighting, and upgraded traffic systems, alongside improvements in water quality and the electrical grid.

Together, these aspirations reflect a community committed to enhancing both the quality of life and the overall aesthetic and functional aspects of their neighborhood.

Summary of Listening Tour Results When tallied in aggregate, the top 8 areas of focus in the East Central neighborhood include: Care & Respect, Aesthetics, Phonesthetics, Safety & Crime Reduction, Amenities, Housing (& Density), Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance, and Recreation.

Top Dreams by percent (top 5) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Housing – 15% Recreation – 13% Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance- 11% Aesthetics- 10% Safety & Crime Reduction- 10%

Top Assets by percent (top 5) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Care & Respect – 29% Phonesthetics – 24% Belonging & Connectedness- 18% Amenities- 10% Safety & Crime Reduction- 6%

Top Concerns by percent (top 3) 1) Aesthetics- 17% 2) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 12% 2) Aesthetics- 12% 3) Care/ Respect – 10% 3) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance- 10%

1)

Care/ Respect- 13%- East Central Neighborhood residents value one another – and describe their neighborhood as a place where neighbors look our for one another and have a culture of mutual care and support. It should come as no surprise then, that East Central residents want to foster a neighborhood culture with even stronger relationships and demonstrations of care and respect characterized by friendliness, courteous driving, intergenerational interaction, and neighbors investing in one another. Challenges to mitigate include trespassing and maintenance of both individual and communal properties.

2)

Aesthetics- 10% - East Central residents desire to create a community that is beautiful, and clean, characterized by manicured lawns, weed-free public spaces, and an abundance of flowers that enhance the neighborhood’s visual appeal. While residents list the neighborhood’s cleanliness is one of its existing strengths, they also mention several challenges that need to be faced in order to realize their vision for improved aesthetics including: clean up of alleys, vacant lots, and the area surrounding the rail-tracks. Additionally, they believe the presence of more trash cans could help decrease the presence of trash, broken bottles, and discarded beer bottles on their streets.

2)

Phonesthetics- 10% - Many East Central residents report that they love the quiet, peaceful, and calm atmosphere of their neighborhood. They feel the peaceful atmosphere of the community could be enhanced by encouraging residents to abide by existing noise ordinances, and reducing the presence of loud vehicles, reckless drivers, and firecrackers in their neighborhood.

2)

Safety & Crime Reduction- 10% - In the East Central Neighborhood, Community strengths lie in the existing sense of safety and- for some residents- an apparent lack of crime. Residents aspire to create cleaner, safer spaces for children and adult neighbors alike. Challenges include tackling homeless break-ins, reducing incidents of children fighting and trespassing, and enhancing overall safety. Additionally, some neighbors expressed a desire to see reductions in the rate of crimes, including:, including violence, shootings, and killings in the neighborhood. Opinions on police patrol vary, with some preferring fewer patrols and others desiring more officer interaction, either through conversations or bicycle patrols.

Summary of Listening Tour Results When tallied in aggregate, the top 5 areas of focus in the East Central neighborhood include: Care & Respect, Aesthetics, Phonesthetics, Safety & Crime Reduction, Amenities, Housing (& Density), Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance, and Recreation.

Top Dreams by percent (top 5) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Housing – 15% Recreation – 13% Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance- 11% Aesthetics- 10% Safety & Crime Reduction- 10%

Top Assets by percent (top 5) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Care & Respect – 29% Phonesthetics – 24% Belonging & Connectedness- 18% Amenities- 10% Safety & Crime Reduction- 6%

Top Concerns by percent (top 3) 1) Aesthetics- 17% 2) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance – 12% 2) Aesthetics- 12% 3) Care/ Respect – 10% 3) Infrastructure & Inf. Maintenance- 10%

3) Amenities- 9%- The East Central Neighborhood envisions a neighborhood with convenient access to various amenities, including shops, boutiques, grocery stores, and schools, all within walking distance. They aim for fewer gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor stores, while prioritizing the availability of afterschool care. The neighborhood's strengths lie in its proximity to downtown, the presence of churches, and the presence of Indiana Tech.

4) Housing (& Density) - 9% - East Central neighborhood residents aspire to have an increased supply of newer and more well-maintained homes that offer affordable options for both homeownership and renting. They seek higher-density building developments and aim to ensure that residents can live without the constant threat of eviction. They identify a need for more homeownership and housing assistance, building larger and more homes/ structures, and a reduction in the number of Airbnb properties in the area as challenges that need to be addressed.

4) Infrastructure & Infrastructure Maintenance- 9% -For East Central residents, a future with enhanced and improved infrastructure would include a better park, increased street lighting, improved street signage for safety, and upgraded traffic lights, clean well-kept alleys and various street improvements like visible curbs, improved pavement, repaired sidewalks. Additional challenges facing the community include a desire to have cleaner water and a stronger electrical grid.

5) Recreation 8% - East Central residents would like to see their neighborhood provide a wider array of kid- and youth-friendly options for recreation and play including sports equipment, basketball and baseball facilities, swing sets, and areas for kids to ride bikes. seating options nearby. One of the neighborhood residents’ most popular suggestions was that more water features- such as pools, splashpads, and wave pools- be included in the neighborhood.