Over the course of the last two years, Mayor Flanagan and his Administration have worked closely with the Neighborhood Associations to address the quality of life issues, which affect those who live, work and visit our great city. Through the tireless efforts of us all, problems have been identified, addressed and a focused attempt at revitalizing our neighborhoods in underway.

Safer, cleaner and better neighborhoods are built street by street, block by block, with active citizen participation. Traditionally, municipal government approaches neighborhood issues with a "top-down" mentality. Under this top-down approach, city department heads implement policy in the neighborhoods and the residents of the neighborhood merely adapt or react to a new policy. Through Building Blocks, the residents and businesses of each neighborhood in the City of Fall River will be empowered to shape and drive municipal policy in their neighborhood.

Through this innovative initiative, each neighborhood will collaborate with various City Departments through Mayor Flanagan's Office of Neighborhood Outreach, to create a Neighborhood Building Blocks Plan. Since each neighborhood across the city may have different priorities and issues that are unique to the neighborhood, the Neighborhood Building Blocks Plan will implement the general Building Blocks principles to address the specific issues which the neighborhoods face.

Each Building Block Plan will include the following elements:

1. Nuisance Abatement / Code Enforcement

Currently, City Departments work with residents and businesses of the neighborhood to identify properties, which are the major source of police calls and requests for enforcement of the State Minimum Housing Code & State Sanitary Code. Once these properties have been identified, the City will work with neighborhoods and property owners to address the issues. The following components will assist us as we work to clean up our neighborhoods.

Acceptance of Chapter 59, Section 57 D - Affidavit of Address

(Pending City Council Approval)

Property owners in the City of Fall River will be required to submit current contact information for the property which they own. Additionally, a placard would be required on all multifamily property, identifying current property manager. This information will allow the City Officials to more effectively and efficiently address issues of concern to a particular property. (Often times property changes hands, information is not current or banks have foreclosed on property - Delaying response time).

Adoption of New Bank Foreclosure Ordinance

(Pending City Council Approval)

Mirrored after the City of Boston, this ordinance would require Banks and/or individuals or entities to notify the City of Fall River upon Foreclosure of Property, allowing neighborhoods and city officials to have a current database, and if vacant collection of Vacant Property Fee.

Coordinated & Reasonable Municipal Code Enforcement
Working with our Neighborhoods, the City of Fall River will aggressively target and inspect properties, which have reeked havoc in our neighborhoods.

Receivership & Resale of Abandoned Properties
The City of Fall River has aggressively targeted absentee landlords, abandoned and vacant property and those properties, which have caused nuisance in our neighborhoods. Working with the Attorney General's Office, Mayor Will Flanagan and his team have begun the process of identifying blight in our neighborhoods and working diligently to correct the problem. Through identification, inspection and the legal process, landlords will continue to be held accountable and if necessary, property will be placed in the hands of a receiver.

2. Quality of Life Enhancement
Each resident of our City's neighborhoods deserve the right to live in a safe, clean and friendly neighborhood. The City of Fall River has worked hard to identify all city owned parcels,properties taken by tax title and those properties which may have a negative impact on our quality of life.

- Neighborhood Urban Gardens
Where applicable, and with community involvement, the City has identified locations, where by, on a temporary and/or long-term basis, community urban gardens may be created. With the assistance of community groups, and involvement of interested parties, raised beds will be created through a private/public partnership and neighborhood residents will have an opportunity to grow vegetables, flowers and other healthy alternatives.

-Urban Tree Farms
Where applicable, and with community involvement, the City has identified locations, where by community urban tree farms may be created. Working with the Fall River Street Tree Planting Committee, trees are requested and planted throughout the year. The urban tree farm will allow for stock of trees to be planted and maintained, thereby reducing the cost associated with planting a tree and beautifying an area which is currently vacant.

-Adoption of Abutters' Lot Program

Parcels of land, which have been obtained by the City will be sold, auctioned or offered up under the abutters' lot program. Under the direction of the Administration, parcels, which can not be built upon, will be sold at a reduced cost to adjacent property owners, whereby one or in some instances, more than one, adjacent property owner may take ownership of the property.

-Fire Hydrant Painting
The City of Fall River has embraced the arts and done all it can to support the artistic endeavors of our art community. Working with the Fall River School Department and neighborhood associations, fire hydrants will be painted to represent your neighborhood and provide for a creative outlet, whereby neighborhood associations can enhance their neighborhoods through art, and provide a valuable learning experience for our children.

-Coordinated Community Reinvestment Act Participation
The City of Fall River has partnered with Bank 5, and is actively pursuing community bank involvement to assist in neighborhood revitalization efforts. Through this effort, a fund will be created, providing grant dollars to neighborhood associations for projects within their neighborhood.

-First Time Home Buyer Program
The City of Fall Rivers' Community Development Agency and Bank 5 have created a first time home buyer program, allowing qualified applicants the opportunity to purchase a home.

3. Public Infrastructure Plan
Through the adoption of a neighborhood public infrastructure plan, the residents and businesses of each neighborhood will have input in prioritizing the municipal public works projects in their neighborhood.

4. Building Blocks ~ Existing Condition Plan
Working with various City Departments, the residents and businesses of each neighborhood will develop a GIS plan for the neighborhood that shows the number of police calls and code enforcement calls for various properties; city owned parcels in the neighborhood; and existing conditions. These plans will be used to help implement Building Blocks in each neighborhood.

Through Building Blocks, Fall River's neighborhoods will be rebuilt, Fall River's citizens will be empowered and Fall River's future will be revitalized.