Sign In

 

Griffin Heights Neighborhood First Plan | Community Beautification

< Return Home

Goal: Improve the overall appearance of the Greater Bond Neighborhood through efforts that focus on redevelopment, rehabilitation, and landscaping to enhance the quality of life and sense of neighborhood pride for all residents and visitors.

The appearance of a neighborhood can help build a sense of pride for those who live there, while also attracting new residents, visitors, and businesses. Greater Bond is rich in history, culture, and character. The neighborhood is also rich in amenities that bring beauty and value to the area. From the well-landscaped and centrally located Bond Elementary School to the quiet, natural setting of Speed-Spencer-Stephens Park, the neighborhood has many features that make it a desirable place to live. Most of the houses and the many neighborhood churches are well-maintained and surrounded by mature oak and pecan trees. These features, and the fact that Greater Bond is close to downtown and sits between Florida A&M University and the historic St. Marks Trail, leave the neighborhood poised for a bright future.

Although Greater Bond has many positive attributes, within every community there is opportunity for improvement. The Community Beautification Priority Area team identified the following beautification-related neighborhood concerns: inadequate streetscaping; illegal dumping; excessive litter; and the maintenance/ appearance of some homes, businesses, and properties. Additionally, in a recent Greater Bond Neighborhood survey, respondents identified the repair and repurpose of vacant homes, property renovation, and lot redevelopment as their top three choices for how to best help beautify the neighborhood. These choices were followed closely by the elimination of illegal dumping and litter and streetscape and landscape improvements.

The strategies and action items that follow provide a framework for the neighborhood to work with community partners to not only enhance the beauty and charm of the area, but to help change the overall perception of the Greater Bond Neighborhood to that of a safe, inviting place to live and work.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 1:
Inadequate Streetscaping.

Neighborhood Concern 1: Inadequate Streetscaping
Desired Outcome: Improved streetscaping on targeted streets that enhances public safety and mobility while also beautifying the surrounding neighborhood.

Strategy 1.1: Develop and implement a strategic beautification plan that includes neighborhood signage, a linear park, and targeted streetscaping within the Greater Bond Neighborhood.

Action Item 1.1.1: Develop and implement a comprehensive streetscaping plan for the four identified streets that includes improved lighting, appropriate tree plantings, sidewalk improvements, sheltered bus stops, and other landscaping opportunities.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Planning, Community Beautification and Waste Management, Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure, CRA), Greater Bond Neighborhood Association

 

Action Item 1.1.2: Work with the City to establish a linear park that connects Speed-Spencer-Stephens Park to Wahnish Way and the Tallahassee Junction. (see also Land Use Concern Area)

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure, Electric Utility, PLACE)

 

Greater Bond Linear Park - YouTube
Tallahassee In Progress: Greater Bond Linear Park - YouTube

 

Action Item 1.1.3: Identify locations within the neighborhood to place historical markers, as well as entrance, street and wayfinding signs.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Planning, Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure, CRA)

 

Action Item 1.1.4: Enhance the landscaping in the roundabout on Kissimmee Street.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Planning, Community Beautification and Waste Management, Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure, CRA)

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 2:
Illegal Dumping.

Neighborhood Concern 2: Illegal Dumping
Desired Outcome: A significant reduction in the number of illegal dumpsites that occur in the neighborhood.

Strategy 2.1: Educate the neighborhood about practices that discourage and reduce illegal dumping.

Action Item 2.1.1: Implement a campaign that increases resident awareness of specified bulk waste pickup days and strongly encourages residents to bring bulk items to the curb just prior to collection.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee 
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, Communications)

 

Action Item 2.1.2: Encourage the use of the City’s electronic waste pick-up, the City’s Cash for Trash event, and the County’s hazardous waste drop-off. Include a coordinated neighborhood pick-up in this effort.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association/Community Partners
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, Communications), Leon County

 

Action Item 2.1.3: Encourage residents to anonymously report the vehicle license plate of those who illegally dump. (This item can be part of a broader Illegal Dumping Campaign) 

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, TPD)

Strategy 2.2: Promptly remove illegal dumpsites that occur within the neighborhood.

Action Item 2.2.1: Develop and implement an awareness campaign that teaches and encourages the reporting of illegal dump sites, so they can be removed quickly. (This item can be part of a broader Illegal Dumping Campaign.)

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, Customer Operations)

Action Item 2.2.2: Implement a Neighborhood Scout program and incorporate block captains that would identify and report illegal dump sites. (This item can be part of a broader Illegal Dumping Campaign)

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, Customer Operations)

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 3:
Excessive Litter.

Neighborhood Concern 3: Excessive Litter
Desired Outcome: A significant reduction in the amount of litter that occurs in public and private spaces in the neighborhood.

Strategy 3.1: Implement a neighborhood-wide litter prevention program/campaign that includes an education component focused on youth.

Action Item 3.1.1: Develop and implement a targeted litter campaign for youth that includes themed characters/mascot and a litter bug poster contest. 

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, Communications), Leon County School District

 Action Item 3.1.2: Develop Litter-Free Zones, which are designated areas within the neighborhood that have a plan in place to reduce/remove litter on a frequent basis.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item 3.1.3: Place additional trash/recycling cans in public spaces, where appropriate.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, StarMetro, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), faith-based organizations, nonprofits

Action Item 3.1.4: Encourage local businesses to have trash/recycling cans that are available for use by patrons.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management, Growth Management), local businesses

Strategy 3.2: Clean up litter as it occurs to reduce the attraction of more litter.

Action Item 3.2.1:Coordinate with Keep Tallahassee Beautiful to ensure that all Greater Bond Neighborhood streets are adopted.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item 3.2.2: Coordinate frequent neighborhood cleanup activities, including Neighborhood Sweeps that address the whole neighborhood and efforts that focus on Speed-Spencer-Stephens Park and the stormwater pond.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Community Beautification and Waste Management, Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure)

Action Item 3.2.3: Coordinate with the City on its street sweeping schedule so that the neighborhood association can encourage residents to move their vehicles off street when the streets are scheduled to be cleaned.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure)

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 4:
Maintenance/Appearance of Some Homes, Businesses and Properties.

Neighborhood Concern 4: Maintenance/Appearance of Some Homes, Businesses and Properties
Desired Outcome: An increase in the overall number of well-maintained homes and businesses as well as vacant and public spaces in the neighborhood.

Strategy 4.1: Improve the appearance of vacant lots and neighborhood structures that are dilapidated, substandard, abandoned, or have other care-of-premise issues.

Action Item 4.1.1: Implement an education program that informs residents about how to properly report code enforcement issues related to dilapidated, substandard, and abandoned structures; overgrown vacant lots; and other care-of-premise issues.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee
  • Potential Partners: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, Growth Management, Customer Operations

 Action Item 4.1.2:Develop and distribute a cleanup clause for inclusion in rental agreements that landlords and property managers can use when leasing property in the neighborhood” this is wat it says online

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: landlords and property managers

Strategy 4.2: Educate and encourage residents, businesses, and organizations to beautify front yards and other visible spaces from the street

Action Item 4.2.1: Implement a yard and/or home recognition program, such as Yard of the Month.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (TAPP, CRA) IFAS

 Action Item 4.2.2: Develop and implement a campaign to connect residents with resources that assist with yard and home beautification and enhancements.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners:  City’s Adopt-A-Tree program, IFAS’s Master Gardener and Florida-Friendly Landscaping programs, Leon County Solid Waste Management Division

Action Item 4.2.3: Promote the CRA’s Business Facility Improvement program.

  • Lead: City of Tallahassee (CRA)
  • Potential Partners: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association

 

Action Item 4.2.4: Establish a neighborhood tool lending program.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners:  Leon County Library, local home improvement businesses

 

Action Item 4.2.5: Create a comprehensive program to assist residents with beautification efforts aimed at curb appeal opportunities that address items like house paint and front-yard landscaping.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (CRA), Leon County (paint reuse), The Big Event

 

The Greater Bond Residential Façade Improvement Grant Program - YouTube

Action Item 4.2.6: Implement a planter project for local businesses and organizations.

  • Lead: Greater Bond Neighborhood Association
  • Potential Partners: Local businesses, home improvement businesses