What makes a great Neighborhood website?

fsu813 · December 17, 2009, 02:34:48 PM

After reading about the various neighbors in Southern Living Magazine "Top 10 Comeback Neighborhoods" I decided to check out all of the neighborhood websites that were provided:

North Chatanooga - http://www.northshorechattanooga.com/

Crescent Hill - http://www.crescenthill.us/

Wilmore/Southend - http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/wilmore/home/

Patterson Park - http://www.pattersonparkneighbors.org/

Fairmount - http://www.historicfairmount.com/

Greenville - http://www.greenvillesc.gov/

East Nashville - http://www.eastnashville.org/

Holy Cross - http://www.helpholycross.org/

Springfield - http://www.sparcouncil.org/

Of the ten listed.....

1 doesn't work (Wilmore/Southend)

1 is a government-run website (Greenville)

2 are run by area local merchants associations (North Chatanooga & East Nashville)

Patterson Park & Fairmount were the most impressive by far, in my opinion. Very well done.

Springfield's & Crescent Hill's are somewhat similar in thier limited functionality and helpfulness.

Holy Cross is more of a blog format only.

Here are a few things that are a must, in my opinion:

1. Visually appealing. Photos do wonders. Something decribed is one thing, something seen is another. The visual would also include a simple, clean site layout. Clearly marked links. If it looks good it will draw people in.

2. Easily navigatable. Again, clearly marked links. Drop down boxes. The most popular features are easy to find, such as a calander. Little clutter, if any.

3. Sections of interest. Seems like these topics are of universal interest: Calander of events, neighborhood history, history of the organization, how to contact the organization, what the organization currently does, mission of the organization, photo gallery, links to related media articles/video, links to helpful city-websites (ie COA's), different organizations with in the community, explantions of any unique guidelines in the neighborhood (ie, historic districts), by-laws, maps.

4. Interactivity. Regular newsletter or updates, important notices posted as needed. This is the limit the interactivity on most sites right now. The icing on the cake, per say, would include the ability to upload photos & video, neighborhood forums / message boards, blog.

5. Commerical friendly. The ability to have local businesses advertise on the website. Perhaps a list of local businesses. Available real estate for purchase or rent. This is also limited to the area merchant associations for the most part, but connect to the main neighbiorhood website would be ideal.

What do the IT guys think something like this would cost to start up & maintain? Any estimates? Just wondering.....

Lunican · December 17, 2009, 03:06:29 PM

One thing I noticed just by glancing at the domain names... They all have the name of the neighborhood except Springfield. Sparcouncil.org is meaningless to someone outside the area.

thelakelander · December 17, 2009, 03:19:37 PM

RAP has a great neighborhood website: http://www.riversideavondale.org/

fsu813 · December 17, 2009, 03:21:37 PM

I agree. Theirs is very well done.

It doesn't include all the things I listed , but few, if any, probably do.

Lunican · December 17, 2009, 03:29:59 PM

For people researching neighborhoods, photos are very important. It instantly lets them know if it is the type of neighborhood they are looking for.

I can't find a single photo of Springfield on SPAR's site.

fsu813 · December 17, 2009, 04:18:33 PM

oops....i missed this one.

Phelps Grove - http://www.phelpsneighborhood.org/index.htm

strider · December 17, 2009, 06:12:53 PM

For what it's worth, HSCC used to own the domain name of HistoricSpringfield...something or another...can't quite remember. Originally everyone said they must keep it, but later someone decided to give it up in favor of SPARCouncil.org. Just a little opps perhaps....

Dan B · December 17, 2009, 08:24:01 PM

Quote from: strider on December 17, 2009, 06:12:53 PM
For what it's worth, HSCC used to own the domain name of HistoricSpringfield...something or another...can't quite remember. Originally everyone said they must keep it, but later someone decided to give it up in favor of SPARCouncil.org. Just a little opps perhaps....

I believe the urls, both HistoricSpringfield, and Springfieldpreservation were accidentally not renewed. If memory serves me correct It happened between Liz Peak leaving, and Brenda starting. Derek, who was the web committee chair at the time had purchased SPARcouncil.org as a happenstance, so it was quickly put into place.

Sadly, SPAR, as an organization, has never had a strong grasp of the importance of its web presence. There have been individual board members who championed it, but one or two voices simply aren't enough to make it happen, there has to be a commitment. Generally speaking, the feeling I always got from other board members was that the web was more of a burden to be dealt with, than a tool to be used.

Springfielder · December 18, 2009, 07:42:58 AM

Quote from: Dan BSadly, SPAR, as an organization, has never had a strong grasp of the importance of its web presence. There have been individual board members who championed it, but one or two voices simply aren't enough to make it happen, there has to be a commitment. Generally speaking, the feeling I always got from other board members was that the web was more of a burden to be dealt with, than a tool to be used.

That's exactly the main problem...not embracing the usefulness and the ever-expanding world of the web. They still haven't embraced it, and until they finally realize just how important a communication tool it is, they'll be left in the dust...and we'll be left in the dark.

fsu813 · December 18, 2009, 08:51:03 AM

The 6th paragraph in the newest newsletter referenced making communication a priority now, and with the website under contrsuction, i'm hopeful. (ironic that one finds that out via newsletter, eh)

I don't feel it's good to compare them to RAP's, since they are in different situations. Of the "comeback nieghborhoods" that have a similar format, 5 I believe, SPAR's is tied for 5th imo.

Here are some other neighborhood websites in Jacksonville:

San Marco - http://www.smpsjax.com/

Murray Hill - http://www.murrayhillneighbors.com/

Neither are extraordinary and pretty basic.......but do incorporate some of the staples.

Karl_Pilkington · December 18, 2009, 10:06:07 AM

Quote from: fsu813 on December 18, 2009, 08:51:03 AM
and with the website under contrsuction, i'm hopeful.

are the webmasters texting in the code? how long does it take to build a website these days.. "under construction" is kind of a joke at this point as its been months. I can go buy a website builder online and have one up in a few hours. To me this is just another example of why SPAR is ridiculous.

Springfielder · December 18, 2009, 10:19:22 AM

That's so true....why is it taking months to bring the forum back online? I find it nothing more than spar's way at letting us know they did what they threatened to do...which was take it down. If they truly wanted it back up, it would be up...but it's clearly not a priority what so ever with them, even though there's a large portion of our community that utilized it...and of whom have moved on and away....so once again, spar loses out

fsu813 · December 18, 2009, 11:51:10 AM

Karl,

The website is and always has been up, FYI. By "under contruction" I didn't mean that it wasn't functioning, just that it will be changing. Perhaps you were looking at another site.....? Wierd.

Springfielder,

I doubt there will be a SPAR forum once the site it is updated. Perhaps i'm wrong, but I don't see why SPAR would want to maintain a forum. None of the other sites I linked do so. That was a luxury. It seems like SPAR is encouraging people to use www.myspringfield.com now, as it was previosuly linked on thier site. Personally, I think this is a win-win. SPAR gets to stop devoting time to a high-maintenance feature and in turn residents get an unaffliated forum that is inheritantly free of bias or conflict of interest.

TPC · December 18, 2009, 11:56:10 AM

Quote from: fsu813 on December 17, 2009, 02:34:48 PM
What do the IT guys think something like this would cost to start up & maintain? Any estimates? Just wondering.....

I'm more of a designer then an IT guy but I would say a well designed site will cost a couple thousand dollars and require a decent retainer to keep it updated.

Dan B · December 18, 2009, 11:58:45 AM

The forum, while being a bit of a thorn in the side at times, has done amazing things to connect neighbors, and even bring in new residents.

That said, I hope that they do not reopen it. Between MetroJax and MySpringfield, the chasm has been filled. At this point it is what it is. A missed opportunity.