Neighborhood First

Neighborhood First is a neighborhood-led planning initiative that provides a structure for residents to engage in leadership roles and focused working groups to develop a strategic neighborhood plan that serves as a blueprint for community revitalization. Residents, organized through Community Action Teams and focused working groups (Priority Area Teams), identify neighborhood priorities, concerns, strategies and action steps, potential partners and provide leadership for implementation of these plans. The process, staffed by the City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Affairs Division, is designed to engage multiple partners to help realize the community’s vision. Currently, the City is working in different phases of the planning process with neighborhoods targeted through the Neighborhood Public Safety Initiative. More information on these plans can be found by visiting the links below.

In This Section

Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan

The Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan was adopted by the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association on September 24, 2018. On December 13, 2018, the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to fund the plan to the tune of $6.4 Million, with an initial funding of $500,000 and a commitment of an additional $5.9 million over the next three years. The initial $500,000 funding has been allocated to the following projects:

• Development and Construction of a Linear Park
• Residential Housing Façade Program
• Enhancements at Speed-Spencer-Stephens Park
• Engagement Around Community Infrastructure

The Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan addresses the neighborhood’s top priorities and concerns: Community Beautification, Land Use, Economic Development and Resident Empowerment, and Neighborhood Safety & Crime Prevention. The plan identifies strategies and action items to address residents’ concerns within these four priority areas and its exclusive focus is to make the Greater Bond neighborhood a better place to live, work, and play. It is the culminative work of a yearlong collaborative process led by the neighborhood association’s community action team, residents, various interested stakeholders and supported by the City of Tallahassee.

For additional information or questions, please Neighborhood Affairs Division at 850-891-8795 or neighborhoods@talgov.com.

Plan Updates & Feedback

Several projects have been implemented in Greater Bond since the adoption of the plan in 2018. Sixty-five (65) of the 91 action items (70%) from the plan have been implemented – initiated with action needed or ongoing. We are now embarking on the evaluation phase to determine the status of action items from the plan. The feedback gathered from this survey will inform further implementation of the Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan, identify new projects and shape funding decisions. The survey will close on April 30. Thereafter, the data collected will be analyzed and presented at a community meeting in May. Finally, a funding recommendation will be made in June, concluding the evaluation process. Of the $6.4 million original allocation, $2,134,040 remains unallocated.

• Community Beautification
  • Bond Neighborhood Linear Park
• Land Use
• Economic Development & Resident Empowerment
• Neighborhood Safety & Crime Prevention
  • Greater Bond COPPS Recognition

Upcoming Events

Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan Evaluation Community Meeting (Virtual)
Tuesday, March 22, 6pm
Join from the meeting link - https://talgov.webex.com/talgov/j.php?MTID=m6ce2805bb32da7b069a41d4960ae1ff9

Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan Evaluation Community Meeting (In-person)
Thursday, March 31, 6pm (after the opening of the 2022 Southside Farmers Market season)
Smith-Williams Service Center Annex – 2295 Pasco St.

Griffin Heights Neighborhood First Plan

The Griffin Heights Community Action Team, the Griffin Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Tallahassee invite you to view the Griffin Heights Neighborhood First Plan. Neighborhood residents and other stakeholders have worked together to develop a strategic plan for the Griffin Heights community. The plan outlines a thoughtful vision for the neighborhood and captures the sentiment of a slogan that has motivated their work, "Don’t move, Improve."

The plan was adopted by the neighborhood association in October 2020, and the neighborhood is working towards presenting the plan to the City Commission in the coming months. For more information contact the City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Affairs Division at 850-891-8795 or neighborhoods@talgov.com.

Plan Updates (PDF)

• Final Griffin Heights Neighborhood First Plan

Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan

The Frenchtown Neighborhood First planning process kicked off on January 16, 2020 with a Community Open House meeting at the Lincoln Neighborhood Center, 438 West Brevard Street, in the heart of Frenchtown (map). The meeting, attended by over 80 people, gave residents an opportunity to provide input and ideas on the neighborhood’s priorities.

Leading the process is the Frenchtown Community Action Team (CAT), which provides oversight and facilitates residents input in the process. The CAT is made up of a diverse group of neighborhood residents and community stakeholders. Under the guidance of the CAT, three Priority Area Teams were formed to address the six neighborhood priorities listed below.

• Neighborhood Safety & Crime Prevention
• Health & Resident Empowerment
• Economic Development & Community Investment
• Housing
• Land Use & Transportation
• Placemaking & Neighborhood Image

View the final Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan.

Providence Neighborhood First Plan

The Providence neighborhood is located in the southwest quadrant of the City of Tallahassee and is bounded by the CSX railroad lines on the north, Iamonia and Hillsborough Streets on the west, Levy Avenue and Hutchinson Avenue on the south and Lake Bradford Road on the east. The neighborhood is comprised of two separate subdivisions: Hutchinson Heights south of Levy Avenue and Bloxham Heights north of Levy Avenue. The neighborhood is close to Florida State University (FSU), Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), FSU/FAMU School of Engineering, FSU’s Alumni Village and Innovation Park.

In early 2020, the Providence Neighborhood Association (PNA), in partnership with the City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Affairs Division and the Florida State University Department of Urban and Regional Planning (FSU DURP), launched an effort to refresh/update its 2003 Providence Neighborhood Renaissance Plan. The update to the Providence Neighborhood Renaissance Plan will be conducted through the City’s Neighborhood First planning process, which provides for broad-based community participation involving neighborhood residents and community stakeholders. Neighborhood First is a strategic neighborhood planning initiative that is offered to neighborhoods participating in the Neighborhood Public Safety Initiative to address their top priorities. On February 17, 2020, a Community Conversation meeting was held to inform residents and stakeholders about the process and to obtain their initial input on current neighborhood concerns. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan refresh process was put on hold.

Since then, City staff has been working with PNA to cultivate three neighborhood infrastructure projects, one being the Heart of the Hills Placemaking project that was funded for $275,000 in March 2021.

Now, Providence is on the move again! In continued partnership; PNA, City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Affairs Division, and FSU DURP are forging ahead with the planning efforts that were interrupted by the pandemic in 2020.

The Providence neighborhood plan "refresh" will focus on the following priority areas:

• Community Engagement & Empowerment
• Public Safety & Wellness
• Human Capital & Economic Development
• Neighborhood Infrastructure
• Affordable Housing

Plan Updates and Feedback (PDF)

• Providence Neighborhood Plan Refresh: Implementation Strategy Report
• Providence Neighborhood Plan Refresh: Completion Matrix Update Report
• Providence Neighborhood Survey
• Neighborhood First Planning Process
• Providence Neighborhood First Plan Commitment Form