Springfield vs. Eastside

[urbanjacksonville]

I'm working on a new post and I have a question I would like to pose to those who live and work in Springfield. What is your perception of the Eastside (Oakland) Neighborhood? Please let me know if I have your permission to use your reply in a blog post.

I know some people consider it to be a sister neighborhood like Durkeeville or Sugar Hill and some want nothing to do with it.  I know FreshMinistries, a neighborhood organization, has shifted a lot of resources to improving the Eastside.

Thanks!

[Doug V]

Joey, I'm very pleased to read your post.  I pick the "sister neighborhood" option. It's a sister with issues, but hey, it's right next door. I've wished for years that Springfield's Renaissance could spill over into the Eastside, and while we're at it, into North Springfield.

I've despaired of this happening as long as Eastsiders seemed unable to reorganize after Flossie Brunson's death, but they are getting a neighborhood group up and running again.  Janice Love and Beverly Toney and others.  And they are getting Weed and Seed.

They've got to get the reality and perception of crime down.  They don't have Springfield's larger historic homes, but what they do have are bungalows that are perfect first homes - especially at today's prices.  If crime in controlled, the Eastside is marketable.  If you want to be part of the good stuff happening in Springfield, but can't afford it, then the Eastside is for you.  But if you don't feel safe - forget it.

It all comes down to public safety, and Eastsiders have to take ownership of this issue.

Doug Vanderlaan

[Debbie Thompson]

I went to an Operation New Hope open house on the east side last year and thought the neighborhood had a lot of potential...diverse like Springfield and, like Doug said, more affordable housing.  Since I love Springfield, I haven't looked into east side, but if I knew the crime statistics were favorable, I can see where it would be a great place to live. Like Springfield, centrally located to downtown.

[urbanjacksonville]

Thanks for your feedback! Please invite other Springfielders to leave their comments.

[fsu813]

Ideally, sure, revitalization would spill over in all directions of Springfield. Realistically, it's a loooog way off from being anywhere near desirable for someone who can afford to live elsewhere. Crime is the major issue, of course.

[sheclown]

Do we have crime numbers?  It would be interesting to see where it is as compared to New Springfield, Durkeeville, Arlington, etc.

[Springfielder]

you can look the stats up on the coj website...and I would think that those other locations will more than likely show higher stats....not to say that the eastside doesn't have plenty enough of its own

[Doug V]

It's a great question Gloria.  We Springfielders know that the perception of crime sometimes lags behind the reality.  I'm going off hiking, but when I get back I will try to do a bit of research.

As to our neighbors taking ownership of reducing crime, I participated in an anti-crime march from Brentwood to Venus-Mars neighborhood yesterday.  There were about 200 participants.  It was led by several churches and JSO.  Very encouaraging!

Pop quiz: Is crime really worse than ever? 
Answer: No.  We are in a multi-decade downward trend for nearly all kinds of crime.  Violent and property crimes are down over 10% in the first six months of 2009.

[Debbie Thompson]

Stephen, thank you for posting the link to the previous discussion. My cyber time is limited, and I haven't been keeping up with this forum as I'd like to. Until recently, it's been awhile since I've looked at it. (With all the blogs, Facebook, etc, we could be in cyber space 24/7, couldn't we? <smile>)  So thanks for bringing me up to date. Excellent ideas on the former thread.

[urbanjacksonville]

To further extend this topic, someone made the following point to me offline, so I wanted to share it here to get further thoughts:

If you look at the stats for infant mortality, violent crime, lack of healthcare, unemployment and more, the Eastside resembles a third world country in many ways.  How can Springfield and Main Street really thrive with that next door?  By the same token, how can the Eastside improve if it’s socially and economically closed off from Springfield?

Check out the 6-Point Community Initiative from Fresh Ministries as it relates to the Eastside:
http://www.freshministries.org/content/view/71/87/

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvaaK7CIvmo&feature=player_embedded

[Springfielder]

How are they closed off to Springfield?

[Debbie Thompson]

By the train tracks, and by perception. We've had discussions about it at Shadco and neighborhood events (in informal chats.)  How great it would be for historic Springfield to work with the Eastside together as one community. It just hasn't happened yet.

[Springfielder]

Gotcha, and thanks for your response. I'm just not really clear on what the goal is for this...neighbors will be neighbors, but there will always be the 'boundaries' of the neighborhoods. I'm not suggesting one is better than another, but there will always be that dividing line for all neighborhoods. This doesn't mean that each cannot participate in events, etc. that take place in the other...but in reality, what's the goal? Having a sister neighborhood, etc is all well and good, but they will always remain separate entities. I guess I'm just not seeing what the point/goal is. I'm not being negative, I'm not saying I'm not willing to offer a neighborly hand of help, etc., I just don't get what it is that you want to obtain here.

[Johnny]

I would think that if their neighborhood was successfully transformed that would only benefit Springfield.

I have long thought that area could be nice if a little work was put in. I love the park @ 1st & APR. The commercial strip close to the overpass could be a hot spot if done correctly, it may be hard to funnel traffic to it though.

[Johnny]

Part of their problem is the same we deal with in many other parts of our city. Neglect & loitering, I believe they both feed each other as well.