Neighboring

Revitalizing Neighborhoods!

South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Initiative
Stamford, CT

Like many other historical inner city neighborhoods across the country, Stamford's South End neighborhood has had its share of serious problems brought on by lack of investments, deteriorating infrastructure, and a gradual decline of social institutions. Until recently, concentrated poverty and staggering social and economic problems such as crime, poor housing, and unemployment made South End a tough place to live and raise a family. However, thanks to a dynamic partnership between South End neighbors working together to strengthen the community, things are looking up.

The South End Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRZ) is an effective grassroots community mobilization vehicle that engages community residents, property owners, municipal representatives, area businesses, nonprofits, and others in a partnership to revitalize this historic, diverse, urban community. By Connecticut state statute, at least 51% of NRZ members are local residents, and since the organization's inception, its chair and vice chair have been neighborhood residents.

The groundwork for the NRZ was laid in 1995 through a major neighborhood clean up that engaged residents, community members, and employee volunteers of Stamford-based Pitney Bowes Inc. In 1996, the partnership expanded to create the NRZ. Monthly meetings brought together a broad range of community stakeholders to discuss concerns, build consensus, and create and implement a community vision. Pitney Bowes and other area business partners provided services, supplies, and technical assistance to the initiative including training to help residents become effective and engaged community leaders.

Since 1996, South End residents and other NRZ partners have worked to identify priority issues and meet collective goals of revitalizing the community to make it a better place to live and work. Their work has included establishing a community garden and starting a community policing effort to combat crime.

In 2000, the NRZ obtained its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The same year, an antique center and a motorcycle shop opened their doors in formerly abandoned warehouse buildings in a central part of the neighborhood. In 2001, a land donation made by Pitney Bowes ensured that a state-of-the-art fire station would be located in the neighborhood. In 2002, the NRZ raised over $100,000, and after six years of being a completely volunteer-driven initiative, the NRZ hired a full time staff person.

Major neighborhood infrastructure improvements have resulted from the NRZ's efforts such as the design and construction of a new transportation center parking garage, redevelopment of a large waterfront park, and a planned major road improvement. Other developments, not as apparent but equally important, are also taking place in South End. For example, thanks to community volunteers, South End children can play safely on renovated playgrounds. Similarly, the reopening of a renovated community center and funding from the Federal Weed & Seed program has brought expanded youth programming to the area. In addition, Brownfield remediation education programs have enabled residents to receive job training.

The South End NRZ Initiative is an inspiration to tough communities across the nation. It is a model of effective community partnership that respects and values all members. Through the mobilization of empowered community volunteers and the participation of committed organizations that focus human, financial, and technical resources on collective goals, the NRZ has illustrated how a tough community can be transformed into a well-connected and an increasingly supportive place for families.