Healthy Neighborhoods
Positive change in a neighborhood often begins with a single step—one resident fixing a porch or planting flowers can spark a chain reaction, inspiring neighbors to take pride and take action. These small acts can grow into a wave of reinvestment and renewed community spirit.
To support this kind of momentum, the JRC offers small grants for exterior improvements and provides guidance for projects that strengthen neighborhood bonds and promote shared commitment.
Through hands-on projects, educational outreach, and policy support, the JRC focuses on:
- Supporting targeted reinvestment in Jamestown’s housing stock
- Promoting beautification through gardening and landscaping
- Exploring productive uses for vacant land
- Improving systems for managing vacant and abandoned properties
- Encouraging proactive and engaged communities
Renaissance Block Challenge
The Renaissance Block Challenge (RBC) is a neighborhood revitalization program that encourages groups of neighbors—known as clusters—to work together on exterior curb appeal improvements. By collaborating on beautification projects, participants help build confidence in Jamestown’s neighborhoods and inspire broader community reinvestment.
Paint Jamestown
Paint Jamestown offers city residents the opportunity to enhance their historic homes by selecting from a palette inspired by the rich array of house colors popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Past Projects
GROW Jamestown
GROW Jamestown was a citywide initiative that brought together community partners to promote gardening, landscaping, and other greening efforts across Jamestown.
Mission & Goals
The Neighborhood Committee operates under the guidance of the czb Healthy Neighborhood plans, which were adopted by the Jamestown City Council in 2010 and integrated into the City’s Comprehensive Plan. These plans serve as a framework for neighborhood stabilization, growth, and increased resident engagement. Funding for neighborhood programs and staffing is primarily provided by the Johnson, Lenna, Sheldon Foundation, and the Community Foundation. The committee’s mission is to foster thriving neighborhoods that are both healthy and invested, while supporting stable or rising property values.
Committee Goals & Objectives
- Motivate homeowners and landlords to assume responsibility for revitalization costs through sustained maintenance and reinvestment, thereby contributing to increased property values
- Promote active engagement among property owners, tenants, and landlords to enhance community development and neighborhood cohesion
- Build a strong sense of community pride that encourages property owners to maintain and improve their properties
- Partner with housing agencies to boost owner-occupancy rates and stabilize neighborhoods facing transitional challenges
- Advance the implementation of Neighborhood Reinvestment program goals
- Support improvements to key gateways welcoming residents and visitors to Jamestown
- Assist in and support the City’s historical preservation initiatives
Success will be measured by increased property values, growth in public and private investments, higher numbers of owner-occupied homes, and the volume of homes receiving assistance.