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Mayor: 'There will be no slums on my watch'

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 - 02:23:42 pm CST

Declaring, “There will be no slums on my watch,” Mayor Chris Beutler unveiled an initiative Thursday to tackle deteriorating housing, falling homeownership rates and increased crime and drug abuse in Lincoln’s core neighborhoods.

Beutler said Lincoln has a long history of strong neighborhoods, but some core neighborhoods have fallen into distress and are at a tipping point. And when one neighborhood falls, the whole city suffers, he said.

“If we do not act now, we risk witnessing the kind of urban decay and hopelessness which plagues too many cities in the U.S.,” Beutler said. “These areas still remain proud neighborhoods and filled with people and resources that can help us meet those challenges.”

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Mayor Chris Beutler

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Mayor announces neighborhood initiative

Mayor Chris Beutler unveiled an initiative Thursday to tackle deteriorating housing, falling homeownership rates, increased crime and drug abuse in Li...

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Special report: The Core

His “Stronger Safer Neighborhoods” program will focus on restoring housing and reviving commercial activity; rebuilding neighborhoods and reducing crime and blight.

The police department will oversee the effort, but Police Chief Tom Casady said it takes much more than police officers to tackle blight and disorder.

“It’s a very difficult problem to deal with,” he said. “You cannot arrest your way out of this.”

He said “systemic change” is needed, and his department will recommend policy changes to the mayor.

“I can assure you that we can make a difference,” Casady said.

A new mayoral aide will coordinate the effort out of the police department: Former planning commissioner Jon Carlson. Carlson owns apartments and has long been a neighborhood leader in the Near South Neighborhood, where he owns a historic home.

Carlson and the police department will decide where to focus their efforts initially, and then move on to other areas as they see success.

The city is already targeting the Near South Neighborhood with a blight study, which would open the door to urban renewal financing tools.

The city will partner with nonprofits and eventually, developers, to revitalize neighborhoods.

NeighborWorks Lincoln is a key partner. The non-profit  housing organization which works to revitalize communities is already:

*  Applying for state funding to convert old houses from rentals to single homes in core neighborhoods, such as Near South.

* Partnering with a national organization to help low-income homeowners make minor repairs for free.

NeighborWorks head Michael Snodgrass — who worked in the Kansas City core before moving to Lincoln — said revitalizing neighborhoods is difficult work.

He has big plans for Lincoln though. NeighborWorks will build  and rehab more homes than in past years. And Snodgrass formed a group called the Lincoln Policy Network to push for new neighborhood revitalization tools on the city, county and state level.

Carlson said his goal is for every Lincoln neighborhood to be a place where people want to buy a home, start a business and have a family.

“We’re gonna do it,” he said.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


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Great wrote on March 6, 2008 12:27 pm:
" Nice to see some action from the Mayor's office. Now if we can just get a good many citizens to stop whining and start doing something we can improve Lincoln. Maybe we can even improve it to be better than that "former city with 6 times less taxes"! "
kan wrote on March 6, 2008 12:31 pm:
" Oh gimme a break!Dressing up the housing will only raise rent and force the problems into other parts of the city.A pretty house will not make the hookers,crackheads,panhandlers find a new life.Noone benifits but the homeowners and that is fine but dont dress it up like you are tackling a social problem,you are only throwing a coat of paint on it calling it good. "
Poor wrote on March 6, 2008 12:34 pm:
" I own a home in the near south area but can't afford to fix it up, however, I also don't fit their guidlines. You have to be really poor to get any help. Great, now I'll be told I have to fix up my property when I don't have the money to do it. Are you going to come in and take it away from me now. "
Near South Resident wrote on March 6, 2008 12:44 pm:
" The Mayor is setting a real high standard for this initiative. I hope he is fully aware of the potential disappointment if the actions aren't carefully followed through. I welcome this energy to improve core neighborhoods in Lincoln but I'm very cautious about the consequential positive results even when I see the potential for the initiative to fail miserably. All I'm saying is that the Mayor is walking a fine line here and I hope he knows what he is doing. "
Fix the cause not the result wrote on March 6, 2008 12:48 pm:
" The people that live in these areas will only relocate to similar areas, or areas that will soon be similar because of what they'll bring with them. Drugs & alcohol are the cause. Community revitalization is great, but it's not the answer to THIS problem. "
Thank you Mayor wrote on March 6, 2008 1:05 pm:
" I have lived in Lincoln for 40 years. This is the first time I have heard a mayor speak about the need to invest in our older communities. When I grew-up, people believed in preventative maintenance. Seems like anymore people are only interested in building new. They don't want to invest anything in maintaining what previous generations built. Its time to start thinking about preventing blight and urban decay. "
Carmelo wrote on March 6, 2008 1:26 pm:
" This is the best news concerning this city that I've heard in a long time. Mayor Beutler is awesome. "
No, give me a break wrote on March 6, 2008 1:42 pm:
" He created a mayoral aid to work out of the police department? How about creating a few extra cops. "
Tammy wrote on March 6, 2008 1:59 pm:
" Hmmm...and yet, we gave Hy-Vee TIF money to build a shiny new store in a "blighted" area, so they could close an existing store and block the lease to for 5 years to another grocer, which will certainly assist in tipping the University Place neighborhood farther into the wrong end of this spectrum. A good start would be to really look at the long term effects of the decisions made by the city as far as development goes, and not just green stamping everything because it looks good on paper. "
Poor Person wrote on March 6, 2008 2:11 pm:
" Um, does this mean people who need help will get it? Or, does this mean if we can't keep up we'll be forced out.
"
Poor Person wrote on March 6, 2008 2:25 pm:
" Does this mean someone will help the poor? Or will we be forced out?
"
Barbara wrote on March 6, 2008 2:51 pm:
" Hmm. Let me get this straight. The Mayor has presented a plan to revitalize core neighborhoods. He's proposing to partner with organizations and developers who share this vision. He's hired a point person that will oversee the diverse aspects of such an undertaking to improve the distressed neighborhoods and he's working with a local organization (Neighborworks) to help this come to fruition. All for the benefit of our citizens both directly and indirectly. Seemingly good news in time of recession. Shame on this man. What is he thinking? "
Max A. wrote on March 6, 2008 2:51 pm:
" Okay, where in the budget did the mayor and city council find the money to add another mayoral aide? I get it the city really does not have a budget shortfall. "
Joe Q. Public wrote on March 6, 2008 2:58 pm:
" Politicians sure do like to talk and propose expensive solutions. Hey Mayor Beutler why don't you keep Hawthorne School open instead of allowing the Witherbee neighborhood to become more 'blighted' than it has already been considered. Is there some sort of collusion between the City Council and contractors and study firms who are alwasy willing to step up and get paid at the expense of the Citizens of this community? "
Jareske wrote on March 6, 2008 3:00 pm:
" Why must all comments on LJS be so negative all the time? It's great that the mayor of Lincoln wants to do something that's good, sure it's probably not going to end all problems, it might or it might not work, but the fact remains that at least something is going to be tried. Hopefully he's pragmatic enough to see if it's not working try something else. Rather than, complain about it and complain that this idea won’t work with out trying. "
LPS knowledge wrote on March 6, 2008 3:24 pm:
" Sorry John Q. Public...the mayor does not make the decisions of what schools to close...the School Board does. Hawthorne also was not 'closed' but instead, it will be 're-purposed' within the District..instead of having an elementary school fully staffed for a small population. "
JT wrote on March 6, 2008 3:38 pm:
" Let's see...I own a 4 unit apartment building that you want to turn into a single family home. Are you going to require that I convert my money-making apartment into a single unit that I would then be required to sell? There goes my investment. What authority will be taking my property away? I forgot, to heck with business owners rights. "
dee wrote on March 6, 2008 3:39 pm:
" Lets not just stop the decay but lets get living wage so people can afford to live in what we replace the bad housing with "
Nic F wrote on March 6, 2008 4:08 pm:
" We need to see more of these people going to AA and NA. The problem is partially money, but more so alcohol and narcotics. You really don't care if your house looks like crap when you're drunk or high all the time. These people need help. I have no idea how they're going to get people to stop drinking and drugging who don't want to stop drinking and drugging. This is going to be a very tough battle. "
Chris wrote on March 6, 2008 4:21 pm:
" How is removing rentals such a grand idea? I realize home ownership is a positive experience most of the time, but there are a lot of people who need to rent as well. And most of the homes that are divided into rentals are enormous! How could they be affordable single person homes?

Being able to afford a decent rental does as much for self-esteem and community as owning a home... renovating might work, but removing apartments will drive up prices and encourange continual moving. Create renting situations where people are happy to stay, and they become part of the community as well.

The programs the mayor initially removed and community centers are things that can truly revitalize the neighborhoods. Hold block parties. Sponser events where people can get together (not create situations where they can hole up in their own homes). Even if you don't want to join in these types of things, neighbors (and troublemakers) know when a strong network community exists. Most importantly, EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS (and PARENTS) need to be involved. Connect kids in school to their Lincoln neighborhoods or take some value in where they live.

There are so many possible answers that don't involve painting over real problems. People cause problems; not just a run down house. Look towards helping and enabiling people more than just fixing a paint job (more so offering help for small fix-it problems to people who need it rather than blight issues) "
Connie wrote on March 6, 2008 4:27 pm:
" Maybe the Master Plan needs to be amended, the near south along 27th St would be ideal for a set of projects like Froehlich’s and the Lincoln Synergy Group. For example, an 18-story building with a retirement center close to the zoo and hospitals would benefit a demographic reality the city should face. Gentrification alone isn’t needed, a better design of the near south to create places for a diverse group of citizens to occupy. "
Interesting wrote on March 6, 2008 4:58 pm:
" Wow, what a bunch of whiners you all are. Give the man a break. At least he's trying to improve these area unlike previous political leaders. If you folks have better ideas, why don't you run for office? If you're all so smart, I'm sure you can figure out a way to implement your plans. "
Earl wrote on March 6, 2008 5:16 pm:
" This might no longer be an area of town for single family homes; if you want to grow up as a city then redefine your Master Plan to create some innovative high density options. Commerce and commercial success will come after there is investment in an infrastructure that can support economic expansion. There are plenty of professionals in the near south who enjoy illegal drugs, it is a mistake to suggest that is income related. "
Jan wrote on March 6, 2008 5:56 pm:
" This is terrific news! I'm a home-owner in a core neighborhood. My neighbors and I have been working for years to keep our properties up and the neghborhood vital. We are fortunate to have a number of top-notch landlords owning apartments and converted homes in the area. We also have a number of really awful, absentee landlords who repeatedly refuse to maintain their properties, who rent to scum and refuse to respond to police and neighbor complaints about the tenants. With the current excess of rental property in Lincoln, even the best landlords are having difficulty finding good tenants. This project will help all of us improve our neighborhoods. NeighborWorks has some great plans to get us started. Will improving our blocks solve all of Lincoln's problems? No. But it will significantly reduce the growing number of problems we face day by day now. Thanks to all who are involved in this initiative! "
ta wrote on March 6, 2008 6:22 pm:
" wow I would say 30% of Lincoln is a slum

Hope the city has a lot of cash "
Huh wrote on March 6, 2008 6:32 pm:
" An interresting idea, but one not well thought out. There are a lot of single home owners already, but most are working parents or empty nesters just trying to make enough to pay their utility bills. Since most work, they make too much to fit the guidelines for help. Will they be forced to do what the city deems "fix up", or will they be left alone. And as far as being a whinner, I don't have any better ideas, but I'm entitled to my opinion. You say "why don't you run for office? If you're all so smart, I'm sure you can figure out a way to implement your plans. " Well I say, we work hard, sometimes two jobs, and don't have the time to run for an office. Besides, most of us don't have enough money and name recognition to be able to.
"
WHAT WE NEED wrote on March 6, 2008 6:41 pm:
" We need landlord tennat reform. Give the property owners more power to evict the problem tennants. "
Wake up wrote on March 6, 2008 8:22 pm:
" Ya all are missing the point here. Don't ya realize
after they looked at the declining assessed value of this
area, they will do anything to get the buildings put in
single family homes and cleaned up so they can give them
an unreal assessed value, just like the newer homes. THEY WANT MORE TAX MONEY, get it???!! Theres too many
jerks in this town you can't talk to in order to better
the city. This town will NEVER see lower taxes, and there are many places with much lower taxes than Nebraska, including my neighbors that moved back and
wished the heck they hadn't!!!! "
blight me wrote on March 6, 2008 8:33 pm:
" Jon Carlson? A failed demo office seeker suddenly becomes a mayoral aide!! Where was this in the budget and where was this job advertised? Wait a minute...Jon Carlson owns property in this neighborhood and now he is going to be getting a city salary to improve this neighborhood? Isn't this a conflict of interest? If the dems go after Jon Camp why is this now ok for Carlson? Beutlers phony rhetoric rings hollow. "
JJ wrote on March 6, 2008 9:56 pm:
" 30% of Lincoln a slum? 30 percent! It's gotta be at least thirty-five. "
no wrote on March 6, 2008 11:46 pm:
" no the slum lords will the the money to fix up the places so they can then sell them fro ten times the amount they paid and the city will foot the bill its the new way in lincoln it started with liba with dumping millions into down town which will never be down town again but they force the issue to try and drive up the value of property for the property owners all at the expense of the tax payer "
Hjalmer wrote on March 7, 2008 6:32 am:
" As a rural resident that can conveniently shop in either Omaha or Lincoln, I'm stunned at the comments. A mayor proposes a substantive plan to preserve and improve a neighborhood that's in trouble and the response in negative? No wonder Omaha steps out ahead of Lincoln in every respect. Omaha has a vision of where they want to go and work at getting there. Omaha arguing about building a new ballpark or rehabing the old one. both are positive goals. Lincoln argues about whether they want to try to maintain an existing neighborhood. Lincoln seems to only complain. Good grief. If your property owners are too poor to afford soap, water, paint, a lawn mower and have the ambition to clean and keep up their property, they NEED to sell it. Keeping up a neighborhood is mostly about applying the effort to do it, not money. If you ask nothing of people, that's exactly what you'll get--nothing. Adults, like children, achieve what you expect them to. Set a standard and enforce the standard. Things will start to get better pretty quickly. "
sipnthroed wrote on March 7, 2008 9:44 am:
" How can you even compare Lincoln and Omaha, it's like comparing apples and onions. This whole initiative sounds just like a bunch of politics to me. How is hiring 1 man to overseee this and leaving it up to the police department going to solve the problem? The lpd are busy enough the way it is. Here's an idea, stop the drugs and you stop the hookers and the panhandlin. In return, properties will improve because the loosers leave or go somewhere else to get there dope. "
I keep hearing wrote on March 7, 2008 10:16 am:
" about the near south needing cleaned up. Remember the T town district. It was cleaned up a few years ago. Now all the losers are in NE lincoln. Used to have a nice apartment complex behind my property, it was sold and the landlord made it into a low income government guaranteed rent complex. Now its a drug palace. It ain't safe to walk to the back of your house with the front door unlocked. Better look at areas besides the near south and the blogs are right , run them out of one place and they just go to another.
T "
Keep Lincoln Beautiful wrote on March 7, 2008 10:21 am:
" Lincoln has an organization called Keep Lincoln/Lancaster Beautiful. If businesses would actually support this organization financially there is a lot of community organization that can occur. Lincoln is relying too much on government grants to take care of itself. "
roxanne wrote on March 7, 2008 10:48 am:
" did you ever think that some of the crime in the near south neighborhood could be prevented??? I mean, we talk about prositution. Do you really think that the people who live in that area can afford prostitutes???? they live in one of the poorest area's of lincoln. many times, the people who are "helping the prostitues" are what you might consider as "good citizens" yep, the ones who are police, lawyers, doctors, and businessman. remember that next time you think of how we can improve lincoln. Start cracking down on those who are enabling them. trust when i say, it's just not the faults of the poeple in the near south neighborhood, its everyone. "
isotope wrote on March 7, 2008 1:54 pm:
" So if I follow the majority of these comments correctly, it doesn't pay to clean up a neighborhood because the losers will just move elsewhere. So that means you're all proposing that nothing be done, and we just set aside a slum area of town for all the druggies and losers to hang out in? And when their numbers increase, we just let another neighborhood go to hell, and so forth?
"
an idea wrote on March 7, 2008 9:04 pm:
" I think that this is an idea. At least it's trying something, better than letting it get worse. I mean, it's true it won't solve all problems, but community centers and neighborhood activties is a start and the comment about HYVEE is absolutely true. That will definately damage THAT neighborhood. "
Good in theory wrote on March 8, 2008 3:36 am:
" While I appreciate the mayor's enthusiasm, I think this is a sociology experiment in the making.

No matter what is done about the asthetics of a home or curb-side appeal, it doesn't change the underlying problems with the folks that rent the home. The mayor will need to establish a way to teach the underpriveledged how to get a job, how to keep a job, or find some way to teach them skills to qualify for higher paying employment. He will need to find a way to curb addiction, mental illness, and everything else. A tall order indeed. The best of luck to you. "
Postitive wrote on April 5, 2008 10:20 pm:
" I cannot believe a lot of what I am hearing. You have got to be kidding me. This does not mean that you are going to have to convert your multiplex to a single family home, this does not mean you will be force out. Lincoln doesn't use eminent domain except maybe a very very rare case. They are not saying they don't want rental properties! A healthy core neighborhood has a mix of rentals and single family homes. They want the absentee landlords to step up this is true! You cannot come in and take a perfectly good property rent it for years and years making your profit and not put anything back into it. So do you want the city to do nothing? Are you afraid that the criminals will be forced into your neighborhood and then you will have this problem? Quite honestly I would love to look out my window and not see the paint peeling off my neighbors house, but what I would love even more is not to look at a torn up couch lying in the middle of their yard for 6 mos!!! I would love to not find beer bottles in my yard 6 out of 7 days of the week. I would love for the torn up box spring to be put in the trash. These things don't cost much and make a very BIG impact on quality of life. This is a big statement for the mayor to make, but I respect him for being passionate about this issue. It takes people to step up and help out to make something like this happen-don't just sit back and wait for others to do it, lend a hand. It could be your neighborhood that has this problem eventually. "
ALJ wrote on April 5, 2008 10:29 pm:
" I would much rather have the criminals spread out than have "the projects". Drug addiction and alcoholism are huge huge problems, lets try and tackle some of the smaller issues and let NA, AA and local law enforcement tackle those. "

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