This Highland Ridge Elm Street Plan represents a community-driven, long-range vision for the Highland Ridge neighborhood in Washington, Pennsylvania . Started in 2000 as a grassroots neighborhood organization focusing on improving the social and economic climate of their neighborhood, the Highland Ridge Community Development Corporation (CDC) grew out of the need to address increasing crime and public safety issues as well as a deteriorating housing stock. Recognizing that the residents and property owners were the best eyes and ears in the neighborhood, the organization established relationships with the City of Washington, the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington , and major stakeholders within the neighborhood such as the LeMoyne Multi-Cultural Community Center, Washington Federal Savings Bank, the NAACP and local churches. These partnerships have evolved into a major neighborhood revitalization initiative.

Motivated by the CDC^'s commitment to revitalizing Highland Ridge, the City of Washington obtained Pennsylvania Elm Street Program funds to prepare a five-year action plan focusing on comprehensive neighborhood revitalization. The Elm Street Program is similar to the traditional Main Street Program; however, where Main Street
activities focus on a downtown business district, the Elm Street Program is designed to provide assistance and resources to mixed use and residential areas in close proximity to central business districts. The intent of the program is to further enhance the downtown area and to improve the viability of older neighborhoods. The Elm Street Program emphasizes a five-point approach to neighborhood revitalization: 

 *Clean, safe and green activities to enhance the real and perceived level of safety, cleanliness and quality of passive and active recreational opportunities

*Compatible design elements that enhance the physical appearance of the Elm Street
neighborhood by capitalizing on its unique assets and traditional development patterns 

* Improving and marketing the image and identity of the unique characteristics of the Elm Street neighborhood to potential residents, property owners, investors, new businesses, tourists and others

*Neighborhood restructuring that strengthens the quality of existing residential housing stock of the Elm Street neighborhood while diversifying the type and income mix to ensure a balanced environment, and

*Ensuring that a sustainable organization can build consensus and cooperation among key stakeholders that can facilitate the accomplishment of a strategic plan.

For additional information please contact Rob Phillips at 724-228-6875 or rob.phillips@racw.net