High School Students Use Art to Engage Capital View Residents
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Map of Capitol View area.
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Capitol View is one of the most diverse areas in the city with regards to age, income, language, cultures and education. The neighborhood boundaries run within 13th Street east to Capitol Parkway and L Street south to G Street. Capitol View is rich in history with many of the area houses and apartment buildings providing a glimpse of Lincoln 100+ years ago. The location could be its biggest asset with downtown, the Capitol Building, state and city government offices and UNL nearby; its location is so convenient that 21.4% of its residents walk, bike or use public transportation. Finally, there are new landlords in the area who are investing in their properties which is making a very positive impact on the area. Capitol View neighborhood has seen its share of changes over the years. In the 1960's-1980's, single family houses were replaced by multiplex apartment buildings at a high rate. As more properties have been transformed to rentals throughout the years, resident engagement has fluctuated. The area is densely populated with 2,573 residents; Capitol View is 96.4% rental, 3.6 % owner occupied with a 15% vacancy rate.
Recently, NeighborWorks Lincoln received a $10,000 grant from NeighborWorks America to work with the neighborhood to increase resident engagement. These funds will allow NWL to team up with the recently organized Capitol View Neighborhood Association, collaborate with the Lincoln Police Department to provide landlords with resources for property management, and lastly, to carry out an engagement project with area residents and youth. Thus far, there have been two stakeholder meetings to discuss property management resources and to identify action steps to begin engaging the community. Tree planting and landscape projects have been planned for the summer and fall.
On Saturday, May 2nd there will be a Block Party at 18th & H Streets hosted by Jacob's Well, a resident-led youth group in the area, NWL, and the Capitol View Neighborhood Association. Students from the Lincoln Public School's Arts & Humanities Focus Program have been working on a portable mural and chalk board that will be used to capture people's ideas of what they would like to see the vacant commercial building at 2001 J Street become. Suggestions so far have included a coffee shop, a youth gathering place with computers and tutoring or an art studio. If you have an idea for a new use for the 2001 J Street building, stop by the Block Party on May 2nd from 2PM - 4PM at 18th & H. Join in on the conversation!
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