TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The City of Tallahassee has finalized a draft of the Neighborhood First plan with the Frenchtown community to make improvements.
A year ago, Frenchtown neighborhood residents, business owners and other stakeholders started to put together a Neighborhood First plan, a process facilitated by the City of Tallahassee’s Neighborhood Affairs Division.
The group has established six main areas of concern from community feedback: housing, economic development and community reinvestment, land use and transportation, neighborhood image, safety and health.
Frenchtown resident Miaisha Mitchell said affording housing is at the top of the list.
"It has been an ongoing concern in our community, particularly because in Frenchtown we had a certain character we like to claim historical and we want to maintain some of our character," Mitchell said.
Mitchell said the problem is with the newer, expensive high-rise apartments in the Frenchtown create less affordable housing for people who've lived there a long time.
City of Tallahassee Neighbor Affairs Manager John Baker said the city is addressing this by using empty lots to create affordable homes, as well as providing money to help repair and modernize some of the homes already there.
A million-dollar from the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency is going to fund the project, which Baker said he's hoping to get finalized in the next couple of months.
Residents in Frenchtown can look through the draft plan and provide feedback on the website by clicking here.
There will be a virtual presentation of the Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. Use the information below to participate.
Join the meeting by clicking here.
Event number: 179 551 9438Event password: FrenchtownCall in: 408-418-9388Access code: 179 551 9438
There will also be multiple opportunities to learn about the plan and provide input in person. Five small group sessions (limit of 15 people during each) will be held at the Lincoln Center (438 W. Brevard St.). Registration is required and can be accessed by clicking the links below. When all spots are taken, registration will close.
- Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 21, at 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 21, at 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 3:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 5:30 p.m.
Masks are required at these events, and social distancing will be observed.
Additionally, City staff and resident leaders will be at the Frenchtown Farmers Market (524 N. MLK Jr. Blvd.) each Saturday in January from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with information about the plan.
The Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan is being developed to move Frenchtown forward in a way that works for all residents! Contact 850-891-8795 or email Neighborhoods@Talgov.com with questions.
