Business District and Affordable Housing Strategy
Hazelwood Initiative
Economic Equity
Hazelwood is a mixed-race, predominantly low-income community with a historic downtown area that has suffered from disinvestment. The Hazelwood Initiative and the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative (GHCC) have been supporting revitalization in the neighborhood through community organizing, housing and real estate development, and other impactful programs.
Following the completion of a comprehensive plan, which outlined a clear vision and mandate for the organizations to manage imminent growth and .aiming to preserve affordability and create opportunities for existing residents and businesses, Fourth Economy was engaged to develop a strategy for revitalizing their business district and addressing the affordable housing gap. Complementing the comprehensive plan, they sought tactical ways for their organizations to collaborate over the next ten years to ensure equitable growth.
Our Approach
Our approach combined quantitative data on housing, retail, and office markets with input from residents and partners about existing activities and opportunities. For the business district strategy, we used our signature Market Cards to help residents determine which potential businesses aligned with their aspirations and market realities. We then engaged local business owners, small business technical support organizations, and the redevelopment authority to develop strategies for business development in Hazelwood. Similarly, for the affordable housing strategy, we brought potential partners together to explore how they could support the community in addressing its affordable housing gap. This process allowed us to create realistic strategies and build relationships with organizations ready to assist with implementation.
The Results
The resulting strategy is an actionable document guiding the work of the Hazelwood Initiative and the GHCC. It includes six detailed housing strategies, outlining unit numbers/types, locations, funding sources, and six strategies for revitalizing the business district. These include site/business-specific strategies and broader placemaking strategies.
Location
Hazelwood, PA