Participants and interviewees were also asked to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the Hilltop Neighborhood.
| Strengths
Good Place to Get Back on Feet Again
Affordable
Close to Bus Lines
Close to Shopping
Close to Employment (Boeing, McConnell, Cessna)
Close to Hospital and Doctors
New Community Center
Interest/Support of Via Christi
Hilltop Church
Hilltop Improvement Alliance
Good Response and Involvement from Police
Community Garden
Neighborhood Organization
People
Elementary School
Friendship Park
Well-Built Homes
Hopeful |
Weaknesses
- Nearly all Rental Property
- Number of Absentee Landlords
- Some Units Inaccessible by Emergency Vehicles
- Difficult to Recapture Investment if You Improve Your Home
- Overgrown Trees Make Intersections Dangerous
- Some Landlocked Homes
- Utility Costs Can Be High - Poorly Insulated Homes
- Abandoned, Vacant Homes
- Public Relations Problem - Perceived Negativity
- Dark Park and Streets
- Difficult Alleys
- Code Violations that Make Homes Unsafe
- Shallow Sewage System
- Trash
- Poor Code Enforcement
- High Mobility
|
Opportunities
- Improve Social Support Infrastructure
- Building Design and Layout is Good for the Elderly
- Design Has Potential to Encourage Community Interaction
- Need/Desire for More
- Homeownership
- Rental Agreements
- Head Start in New Community Center
- Encourage Police to Live in Neighborhood
- Speed Up Condemnation and Demolition Process
- Job Training at Community Center
- Create More Frequent Neighborhood Clean-Up
|
Threats
- Built as Temporary Housing
- Utility Systems and Sewers Built for Temporary Use
- Hard to Get Residents Involved - May Be Little Chance of Broad-Based Participation
- Code Restrictions Inhibit New Construction
- City Financial Incentives Can Be Difficult To Use
- Perception of City Not Meeting Responsibilities
- Barriers to Homeownership or New Construction: Lot size and Required 20' Setback, Easements, Uncertainty Where Utilities Are, Boarded-Up Homes with Unreachable Owners
- High Unemployment
- High Poverty
- Difficulty Financing - Perception of Temporary
- Foundations are Not Permanent
- Kids Damaging Property - Vandalism Condemnation Process
|