Using Collaboration to Meet the Challenge and Opportunity of Economic Development

Using Collaboration to Meet the Challenge and Opportunity of Economic Development: Near Southeast - Southwest DC
Dramatic change is coming to the Near Southeast and Southwest neighborhoods of the District of Columbia. Many development projects, large and small, are in the planning and execution phase across the area, with more anticipated. Thousands of new mostly market rate residential units are planned. A HOPE VI redevelopment of the Capper-Carrollsburg public housing residences is underway. Also coming are new office and commercial buildings, entertainment venues, waterfront parks and green space - and of course the new baseball stadium. The SW Waterfront and Waterside Mall sites will be transformed.

Collaboration DC's objective is to encourage, support and prepare Near SE-SW activists, leaders and organizations to work cooperatively and proactively in serving the needs of residents in this time of unprecedented change.

There is broad support for a long-term goal of a stable, mixed income community that offers a high quality of life to all residents, both new and old, at all income levels. But there are critical questions. What needs to be put in place to accomplish that goal? Who needs to be involved? What resources can be harnessed from development and how?

Development offers potential benefits and opportunities for residents to secure (1) better quality, safer and more hospitable residences and public spaces; (2) new career-oriented employment and small business opportunity; (3) youth centered investments, including schools; (4) new neighborhood-enhancing amenities; and (5) greater cohesion and civic involvement. It also poses potential harm and lost opportunity: (1) current residents being excluded/priced out of housing; (2) no long-term, career-building employment for locals; (3) new retail and service businesses that are neither neighborhood-oriented nor open to small, local enterprises; (4) degradation of the residential quality of life; and (5) heightened polarization of rich and poor.

We believe that a critical element of attaining the desired future is effective collaboration - both among community members and organizations, and between the community and the government and business sectors. People working in "silos", adversarial relations, divided constituencies, lack of communication - these dynamics are crippling. The issues are too complex, the players too numerous, and the stakes too high for any single institution, leader or organization to accomplish what is needed. But collectively much can be achieved.

Collaboration DC's accomplishments to date include:

• Identifying issues of importance where collaboration would make a difference.

• Convening critical stakeholders in city government, private sector and community organizations who embraced a shared vision of achieving a quality, mixed income community inclusive of existing residents.

• Building knowledge and skills of community residents and leaders about negotiating the interests of all residents. (Workshops in the summer of 2005)

• Facilitating the formation of a new community coalition focused on securing community benefits from development.

• Coordinating cooperative relationships and joint actions by key neighborhood organizations and leaders. A May 6, 2006 Community Roundtable on Jobs and Business Opportunities was cosponsored by the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, the Near SE-SW Community Benefits Coalition, three ANC6D Commissioners, and the South Washington/West of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative. Collaboration DC planned and facilitated the Roundtable and is supporting follow up action steps.

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