The Dudley Street neighborhood, less than two miles from Downtown Boston, is one of the poorest in the Commonwealth when measured by median income, but one of the richest when measured by diversity, vision, energy and persistence in pursuit of revitalization after years of arson and disinvestment. This is a neighborhood of 24,000 (37% African-American, 29% Latino, 25% Cape Verdean, 7% European-American and 2% American Indian and Asian); it has eminent domain authority over 30 acres of vacant publicly-owned and privately-owned lots within the smaller Dudley Triangle area of 60 acres and 2,000 residents. The vacant land is largely the legacy of arson. Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) is a sustained process of urban revitalization. DSNI's "design" is to organize and empower residents of Dudley to take control of envisioning the neighborhood's future and create partnerships with banks, business and government, philanthropists and community agencies. These partnerships are essential to realizing that future vision. The lead philanthropic partner has been The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, whose financial support of over $1 million and active encouragement of its staff and Trustees throughout have been an exemplary form of nurture.

DSNI's community organizing has produced results: (a) a comprehensive, resident-controlled neighborhood revitalization plan that set goals in areas of affordable and attractive housing (fee simple and cooperative); an environment that is greener, cleaner, safer and has symbols of neighborhood and cultural identity; an economic base that creates access to services, jobs and an improved tax base; and human development which includes plans for effective collaboration among human service providers, expansion of child care resources and reform of informal and formal educational structures and programs; (b) concrete results in many of these areas (see attached Fact Sheet). The example highlighted in this application is Winthrop Estates: 36 units of fee simple housing,

Here is a summary of the ultimate goals of the DSNI comprehensive plan. Winthrop Estates is one result.

Institute Resident Control & Responsibility: achieved through the community organizing and resident empowerment focus that underlies DSNI's work; reflected in the dominant role played by residents in the DSNI Board of Directors, committees, community-wide meetings, organizing campaigns, Multi-Cultural Festivals and the biennial open election of members to the Board of Directors.

Stop Illegal Dumping and Improve the Environment: the 1,300 vacant lots in the Dudley Street neighborhood which were "away from seeing and concerned eyes" have been magnets for illegal dumping; 250 have been developed with permanent improvements; those lots and others nearby have, therefore, been brought into range of "seeing eyes" of new homeowners. Hundreds of other lots have interim improvements. Illegal dumping has been reduced and can be kept under control through cooperation of Federal, state and local agencies working with the residents.

Restore & Maintain Property Values: vacant lots have been replaced with high quality homes for owner-occupancy, affordable to a wide range of incomes, sold at a price ($90,000) which sets a positive tone for the neighborhood and a positive influence on maintenance and value of surrounding properties; ground has been broken for a Town Commons which will enhance property values and neighborhood pride.

Ensure Permanent Community Benefit of the Land: the land lease issued by Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI) community land trust provides for reasonable appreciation of the house but caps the appreciation, after the first 10 years, to 5% per year. This precludes the kind of real estate speculation market that contributed to the neighborhood's deterioration in the past.

Create Opportunities for Human Development: Human service agencies serving the neighborhood have committed to developing a resident-driven approach to serving the neighborhood; a plan for providing "life-long" learning opportunities is underway.

The permanent financing for Winthrop Estates is straight forward and can be replicated in other neighborhoods -- 30-year, fixed rate mortgages, soft-seconds through the City (CDGB and HOME Funds) at 0.5 point below the first mortgage rate and, in the case of low-income buyers, mortgage subsidies by the City of Boston and down payment assistance from private donations. Development financing was unusual because it was all City resources -- HOME Funds, LEND Funds and donation of City-owned parcels. DSNI's organizing work has been financed by grants from foundations, businesses and, to a lesser extent, government agencies. The total of grants over the past 7 years has been nearly $3 million, which has leveraged nearly $l8 million invested in housing and community space improvements.

DSNI represents an effective model for revitalizing an urban neighborhood. Its approach is renewal built on the spirit and skills of empowered residents. It is that spirit and skill that commands the respect of the powerful centers of influence and money whose collaboration helps turn dreams into reality. It is that spirit and skill which will assure that this piece Of the urban environment, reclaimed from disinvestment and disillusion, is preserved for residents of today and tomorrow. It is that combination of spirit and skill which deserves to be acknowledged, celebrated and, in that way, nurtured as a critical success factor in other efforts to achieve excellence in the urban environment.