Southside - Strategic Plan Item

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Southside housing iconObjective - Southside

Targeted empowerment, engagement, and beautification of Southside neighborhoods and the business community. 

Note:  The Southside has been a City Commission priority since 2021.

Southside Revitalization Plan

Plan's Purpose and Draft Plan

Below is a draft of the Southside Revitalization Plan which has been under development since late 2024. Revitalizing the Southside is a priority of the Paducah Board of Commissioners. This document serves as a foundational guide for the City of Paducah to address the housing needs of the Southside. Housing is an essential pillar of a community’s well-being, providing the foundation for economic stability, social equity, and quality of life. For many, it is also one of the most reliable ways to build wealth. This report offers an overview of the current housing landscape, including key factors such as affordability, availability, and accessibility. It also highlights the significant housing gaps and outlines a strategic approach to begin addressing these challenges.

This plan is an extension and expansion of the work that has been done since 2022 to revitalize the Southside. At that time, the Southside Steering Committee was created, and then in 2023, the Southside Incentive program was developed which offered home beautification microgrants and new construction and major rehabilitation grants.

This plan is a creative, hands-on, strategic approach aimed at jump starting the reinvestment and revitalization of the Southside.

Southside Revitalization Plan - DRAFTSouthside Neighborhood Revitalization Logo with an outline of a house, tree, and loving hands

Timeline for Plan’s Formal Adoption

The timeline for formal adoption of the Southside Revitalization Plan as outlined by the State (KRS 99.37) is as follows:

Southside Incentive Programs

Operating through the Planning Department, the City of Paducah has collaborated with Southside residents and community stakeholders to create housing centric and economic opportunity focused programming for Southside neighborhoods. These programs aim to offer grant funding for repairs for small local businesses, to rehabilitate and improve the conditions of existing homes, and to incentivize new residential development. The available programs are as follows:

  • Southside Business Improvements Grants (Roof Stabilization and Beautification Grants) - These grants are open to all Southside Neighborhoods. Applications are accepted during a specified period of time.
  • Southside Home Repair Microgrant - This grant operates within a defined program area as shown on the application. Applications are accepted at any time.
  • Southside Home Rehabilitation and New Construction Incentive Program - This grant operates within a defined program area as shown on the application. Applications are accepted at any time.

Southside Incentive Programs - Applications and Details

Southside Enhancements Details

Expectations and Tactics
  • Continue to engage and support the Southside Steering Committee.
  • Upgrade amenities in Southside neighborhoods.
  • Evaluate current Walter Jetton Neighborhood incentive programs and consider expanding incentives to other Southside neighborhoods.
  • Evaluate land/lot acquisitions to expand housing options.
  • Develop new community gardens on vacant city lots and make garden resources available to residents.
Accomplishments - 2021 to Present

Award - 2022 City Government of the Year  The Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) named Paducah as the 2022 KLC City Government of the Year in September 2022. The award recognizes a city that has elevated its community through quality governance or done something transformational for the city. An independent board of judges from around the state selected Paducah which applied based upon the City Commission’s decision to prioritize the Southside and develop the Southside Rise & Shine Neighborhood Spruce Up initiative.  “Community innovation is a pillar of the Kentucky League of City’s mission statement, and we are excited that this year’s City Government of the Year award winner exemplifies that goal,” said KLC Executive Director/CEO J.D. Chaney. “Paducah city officials and employees made a unified commitment to embrace neighborhood empowerment and grow pride in areas of the city that have not always been at the forefront. The city’s impact is testament to the ability of city officials to reenergize communities, create new economic development opportunities, and enhance the quality of life. We are proud to recognize the City of Paducah and look forward to seeing the long-term impact of its Rise & Shine program.”

Creative & Cultural Council - Public Art The City is coordinating with the Creative & Cultural Council on public art for Walter Jetton Boulevard. The Council is working with the Mayor and City Manager to finalize a public art policy.

Engagement 

  • In March 2021, the City partnered with the community to hold two live-streamed Southside Neighborhood Public Meetings (see videos below) at Soiree's Events Center which were attended by approximately 180 city and county residents. City provided a thank you email and social media post with an update on the themes heard at the meetings on March 26.
  • As part of Good Neighbor Day (September 28, 2021), a week-long campaign for Paducah Neighbor Week was promoted to encourage neighborhood leadership, community, and safety with information posted on the Paducah Neighborhoods webpage and social media.
  • Southside Steering Committee held its first meeting held February 1, 2022, and has been meeting nearly monthly. The committee's role is to facilitate community engagement and inform policy and programming decisions. The Committee held a public engagement event in October 2022 to provide input for improvements to Robert Coleman Park with more than 200 participants. The Committee also began reviewing in December 2022 draft incentives for residential stabilization and beautification.
  • A postcard mailer was sent in late 2021 providing the various ways to engage with the City and receive communications. 
  • Informational meetings were held with bank representatives.
  • Planning Department has created a draft plan for the Walter Jetton Neighborhood and is working on community engagement activities to further the plan's development.

Grant The City received the 2022 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to cover the environmental assessment of brownfields. Information gained from these assessments will inform future development and to help gain access to additional EPA funds.

Incentives  Planning staff with assistance of the Southside Steering Committee and neighbors developed incentive programs for small businesses across Southside and for housing stabilization and for beautification of the initial target area, portions of the the Walter Jetton and Uppertown Neighborhoods. The Southside Steering Committee reviewed the incentives in December 2022 and January 2023 with the Paducah Board of Commissioners approving the incentive package in June 2023. As of February 2024, nine applications have been approved in the Walter Jetton Neighborhood for microgrants and home rehab/new construction.

Southside Incentive Programs

Infrastructure 

  • The Bridge Street Road Improvement Project is completed with paving, striping, sidewalk, accessible ramps, curbs and gutters, and drainage improvements. This project improved Bridge Street from Broad Street to Irvin Cobb Drive.
  • The tree boulevard on Walter Jetton Boulevard has been extended at Leake Street with accessible ramps also added at Leake Street.
  • Road improvement on South 9th Street from Husbands Street to near Fisher Street with the replacement and addition of curb, gutters, and sidewalks with accessible ramps.
  • Roadway improvements to South 25th and South 24th Streets. A stormwater detention area will be created on South 24th Street.
  • Parks and Recreation received a GameTime grant to fund a portion of the cost for new, inclusive playground equipment for Robert Coleman Park. The larger playground and pour-in-place safety surface along with the addition of sidewalks and an ADA ramp at the adjacent pavilion opened to the public January 3, 2024.

Southside Businesses The City has identified 460 businesses in the Southside region with the City holding business retention/expansion meetings. Roof stabilization and facade beautification incentive grants are available to Southside businesses. 

Southside Rise & Shine Neighborhood Spruce Up  Since beautification emerged as one of the themes from the March neighborhood meetings, the City team established the Southside Rise & Shine Neighborhood events which began in June 2021. Through Southside Rise & Shine, the City initiated a partnership with CFSB to provide financial literacy in underserved neighborhoods. Rise & Shine was accomplished with 104 volunteers, 788 hours of volunteer service, and 815 city staff hours. More than 130 tons of garbage was collected in addition to the filling of 60 large dumpsters and the disposal of 1032 tires.

Visioning Sessions  Mayor Bray and Commissioner Henderson along with several City staff met March 24, April 21, May 13, and May 26 to review the themes from the Neighborhood meetings and start working on an action plan. The 11 themes from the town hall meetings have been narrowed to five areas of development.  Summary from April 21, 2021, Meeting  Data analysis and modeling are in progress for the five areas of development:  economic development, parks and recreation, infrastructure and connectivity, housing, and neighborhood vitality.

Southside Neighborhood Map
Southside map

 

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Southside Steering Committee

Committee Members

Leslie Ballardsouthside neighborhoods logo
Rev. Charles Dunbar
Tommy Hollimon
Mike Muscarella
Kristian Prather
Connie Ragsdale
Tami Synder
Sonya Thompson
Bryson Wells
Susan Ybarzabal

Meeting Dates, Agendas, and/or Summaries

Unless otherwise noted, the meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. at CFSB (2550 Irvin Cobb Drive). 

December 4, 2023
November 6, 2023
October 9, 2023
September 18, 2023
August 14, 2023 (Note - this meeting will be held at City Hall)
July 10, 2023
June 12, 2023
May 1, 2023
April 10, 2023
Steering Agenda - March 6, 2023
Steering Agenda - February 6, 2023
Steering Agenda - January 23, 2023 | Steering Summary - January 23, 2023
Steering Agenda - January 9, 2023 | Steering Summary - January 9, 2023
Steering Agenda - December 5, 2022 | Steering Summary - December 5, 2022
Steering Agenda - September 12, 2022
Steering Agenda - July 25, 2022 | Steering Summary - July 25, 2022
Steering Agenda - June 13, 2022 | Steering Summary - June 13, 2022
Steering Agenda - May 2, 2022 | Steering Summary - May 2, 2022
Steering Agenda - March 22, 2022 | Steering Summary - March 22, 2022
Steering Agenda - February 1, 2022

Southside Rise & Shine Neighborhood Spruce Up

Since beautification emerged as one of the themes from the March neighborhood meetings, the City team established the Southside Rise & Shine Neighborhood events which began in June 2021.  Through Southside Rise & Shine, the City initiated a partnership with CFSB to provide financial literacy in underserved neighborhoods. Rise & Shine was accomplished with 104 volunteers, 788 hours of volunteer service, and 815 city staff hours.  More than 130 tons of garbage was collected in addition to the filling of 60 large dumpsters and the disposal of 1032 tires.

Neighborhood Public Meetings - March 2021

Southside Paducah residents and business owners provided input about their neighborhoods at public meetings held March 4 and March 11, 2021.  Approximately 100 people attended each meeting.

Commission Priorities

Read all Commission Priorities and Continuous Improvement Items including each action item's objective and expectations by visiting Commission Priorities.