News 5 Cleveland Interview: If you build it, will they come? Plans in the works to develop Lorain neighborhood
Southside Gateway Community Plan
Reimagining Southside Gardens
![Southside Gardens housing units](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68bed1_10542ec89e2b47c9b3fd36dec113c04d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_121,h_68,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68bed1_10542ec89e2b47c9b3fd36dec113c04d~mv2.jpg)
The Southside Gateway initiative involves planning around the transformation of public and HUD-assisted housing. While centered around the future redevelopment of Southside Gardens, the planning activities for neighborhood investment will extend to the greater South Lorain, OH community.
These strategies will be based on community input and may include plans for:
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Market-responsive mixed-income housing and new community amenities
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Energy-efficient, sustainable, healthy, and accessible housing units
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Infill development and re-purposing of deteriorated structures
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Infrastructure improvements & neighborhood beautification (streets, sidewalks, lighting, parks, etc.)
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Business development and retention
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Improved access to workforce development, education, and health services
Planning Area
The area covered by the Choice Neighborhood planning grant includes the geographic boundaries in South Lorain, Ohio:
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North: Recently reopened Republic Steel Plant, along 28th St
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South: High-tension power line along 36th St
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West: Broadway
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East: Oakwood Park along Grove Ave.
At the center of neighborhood is the target public housing community—Southside Gardens (the Site).
The general approach to determining boundaries was to focus on physical edges, such as the steel plant and high-tension power lines, as well as mixed-use corridors along Broadway and Grove Avenue.
![City of Lorain map with project target area](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1232a6_dd3abab0a0c5456493e8dea95fe8f181~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_100,h_64,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/1232a6_dd3abab0a0c5456493e8dea95fe8f181~mv2.jpg)
![Simple target area map with Southside Gardens highlighted](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68bed1_08c8f60f0e2140c48e5dd4e6a357eaef~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_146,h_41,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68bed1_08c8f60f0e2140c48e5dd4e6a357eaef~mv2.jpg)
Choice Neighborhoods employs a "Housing, People, and Neighborhood" Model
NEIGHBORHOOD
Create opportunities for private and public investments in Southside Gardens and the South Lorain neighborhood to offer amenities and assets that are important to the community.
PEOPLE
Improve outcomes for those living in Southside Gardens and the South Lorain neighborhood related to income, employment, education, health, and health services.
HOUSING
Replace distressed public housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is responsive to the needs of residents of both South Gardens and the South Lorain neighborhood.
![Planning Phases timeline diagram](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68bed1_e52c95abf5c04689b664762d2cc8ddd8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_62,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68bed1_e52c95abf5c04689b664762d2cc8ddd8~mv2.jpg)