San Bernardino, Calif. – The recently approved Waterman+Baseline Neighborhood Specific Plan has won two prestigious regional awards for planning and development.
The Inland Empire Section of the American Planning Association honored the plan with its 2017 Economic Planning and Development Award. Meanwhile, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) honored it with its first “Against All Odds” award – part of SCAG’s annual recognition of projects within the six-county region that improve livability, mobility, prosperity and sustainability.
The Waterman+Baseline Neighborhood Specific Plan provides comprehensive and multi-faceted strategies for revitalization of the neighborhoods surrounding the intersection of Waterman Avenue and Baseline in San Bernardino. The plan establishes a long-term vision for the area accommodating the addition of 1.2 million square feet of new employment and commercial uses and 2,400 new housing units.
The plan was funded and prepared by National CORE (National CORE), with support from the City of San Bernardino, the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, San Bernardino City Unified School District, local residents and the Neighborhood Transformation Collaborative, a group of more than 30 nonprofit organizations working in the plan area. This partnership has resulted in the identification of unique place-based strategies, many of which are underway.
These include:
- The Arrowhead Grove Neighborhood Revitalization plan, which is redeveloping the former Waterman Gardens public housing complex into a 400-plus unit mixed-income, education-rich community with supportive services to end the cycle of poverty.
- Funding for a business façade improvement program to revitalize properties and improve pedestrian safety along commercial corridors.
- Training seminars for small businesses to support local business ventures, attract job-generating industries and increase local employment opportunities.
- Provision of health and wellness resources in partnership with local hospitals and healthcare providers.
The plan, implemented by the San Bernardino City Council earlier this year, utilizes the collective impact model and provides a holistic approach to neighborhood transformation.
“The Waterman+Baseline Neighborhood Specific Plan shows what a community can accomplish by working together toward a common goal,” said Steve PonTell, President and Chief Executive Officer of National CORE. “We are very encouraged about the future of San Bernardino and are proud to play a partnership role in the transformation of this great community.”
About National CORE, Hope through Housing
National CORE, based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. CORE manages nearly 9,000 affordable, senior and market-rate units in California, Arkansas, Texas and Florida. Over its nearly two decade history, the Hope through Housing Foundation has provided more than 2 million hours of transformational social services such as financial literacy training, senior wellness, and preschool and afterschool programs. For more information on CORE and Hope through Housing, please visit www.nationalcore.org.
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