A community forum is planned at the end of August, and all of Jamestown is invited.
Flyers have begun to circulate announcing the event, which is planned by Jason Stronz, director of the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation.
"It's time for the neighborhoods to start talking about the plan," Stronz said at a recent meeting of the task force for revitalization.
The panel, composed of city councilmen, grassroots volunteers, nonprofit groups and community foundation leaders, is devoted to bringing the czb LLC study to fruition.
In July, Stronz stepped forward with his intention to host a town hall-style meeting for the entire city to kick off a series of neighborhood forums.
Paul Whitford, task force member, suggested the Neighborhood Watch of Jamestown's National Night Out could serve as the ideal evening to spread the word of the upcoming meeting.
Stronz acknowledged the existence of the neighborhood watch and their positive impact throughout the city.
"Now it's about bringing them together under one message," he said.
The community forum is supported by the JRC, and also Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation, the city of Jamestown and its Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission, and WRFA LP 107.9 FM.
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
Declaring the czb neighborhood study is something that has to be a collaborative effort, Stronz said the upcoming forum with serve an introduction to the community. He said it will "engage more people in the public" since the plan was first unveiled at City Hall in May before dozens of residents.
After the recent fact-finding trip to Geneva - where a czb study is well under way - Stronz echoed comments from his colleagues and said the task force is more committed than ever to get the public involved. But in order to rally the city into active neighborhoods, several misconceptions about property revitalization must be corrected.
"The key thing that has to be said repeatedly during the education process is that if you do nothing, taxes will go up," said Stronz. "That is the only guarantee in the tax discussion. That what a lot of people are missing right now, and part of our education process is explaining why that is true, and what that means."
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the public will be presented with an introduction to the recommendations laid out in the czb study.
Stronz said the forum will include a brief panel presentation and an interactive discussion with members of the audience. There will be plenty of room for questions and answers, he said.
"The meeting will focus on building a network of neighbors committed to improving our city streets and building healthy neighborhoods," Stronz said, "while promoting neighborhood pride and comradery."