As a general statement of the neighborhood's philosophy toward physical redevelopment, the Development Principles were a starting point for the creation of a Desired Neighborhood Framework shown on page 35. The Desired Framework provides an illustration of the eventual or long-term objectives of physical neighborhood projects and improvements. There are three significant new elements of the Desired Framework that could help reposition the Hilltop Neighborhood. The implementation of these framework concepts is explained in greater detail later in this chapter.
The first element of the Desired Framework is the recommendation that the detached units on the west side of the neighborhood are improved to strengthen their relationship to neighboring units and to Friendship Park.
The second recommendation is that the separation between the two sides of the neighborhood is removed and replaced with improvements that could be an asset to both sides of the neighborhood and could provide a gateway element between the two areas. In effect, the framework proposes that the existing barrier become an opportunity place for interaction.
The third major element of the Desired Framework is new park space within the interior of each of the three major blocks of detached housing on the west side of the neighborhood.
These framework elements lay the ground work for the detailed physical plan recommendations. The following discussion on pages 36-41 looks at each element in isolation. The recommended combination of these framework elements is the Proposed Physical Plan shown on page 43.
Achieving the Desired Neighborhood Framework could be done through a number of mechanisms described below:
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Open Space
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Improvements to Existing Housing
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New Streets
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Strategic Phasing of Improvements