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Neighborhood Indicators
What is an Indicator?
Indicators are small bits of information that reflect the status of a larger system. An effective indicator or set of indicators help a community determine where it is, where it is going, and how far it is from chosen goals. Neighborhood indicators help evaluate what conditions exist and whether the direction the neighborhood is headed is consistent with the goals related to the City of Roanoke’s Comprehensive Plan. Indicators measure conditions within a neighborhood and can be used as a reporting tool to help build consensus for community action.
Indicators package data in a form that allows for easy accessibility to information. City officials, residents, community organizations, and other interested parties can look at a package of indicators and be able to get a sense of the neighborhood’s status, how it has changed over time, and what effect certain polices have had. With this information, decisions and policies to institute change and to meet goals can be more easily and efficiently developed.
Developing a Neighborhood Indicators Project for the City of Roanoke
Roanoke’s Vision 2001-2020 Comprehensive Plan calls for the development of “indicators for neighborhood health and sustainability”. The intent of this project is to create a tool that can be used in neighborhood planning by providing accessible data. Having a readily available and updated list of indicators that suggest neighborhood trends is a valuable tool because it allows planners to monitor the state of a neighborhood’s health and sustainability and make policy decisions accordingly. Monitoring neighborhood health also allows planners to realize areas of success or failure, aiding the goal of positive neighborhood growth and change. Planners can use indicators to coordinate planning efforts with communities by using them as a reference for policy decisions, giving residents a clear indication of policy functions and goals.
Indicators by Category:
General Demographics
Age Distribution
Housing
Median Year Structures Built
Median Contract Rent
Housing Type (Units in structure)
Conservation Areas and Rehabilitation Districts
Economic
Per Capita Income
Education
Unemployment Rate
Enterprise Zones
Community Involvement
Neighborhood Group Boundaries
Average Voter Turnout
Public Safety
Police Zones
Property Crime Rate
Violent Crime Rate
Mobility and Service Access
Transit Routes
Distance to Libraries
Park and Public Open Space
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