The City of Tallahassee

Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan | Placemaking & Neighborhood Image

This priority area focuses on the improvement of public perception of the neighborhood, the preservation of historical places, and the enhancement of public places and other community assets to create a sense of place and promote resident health, happiness, and well-being.

Goal:Enhance the sense of place in the neighborhood by transforming the community and changing the perceptions so that Frenchtown is seen as a historic and vibrant community where all people can enjoy a high quality of life.

Outcome: Frenchtown is a vibrant and thriving community where residents and visitors alike can enjoy amenities, activities and events that support and celebrate the neighborhood.

Placemaking is a process that promotes the distinctive characteristics and elements of a place and aims to expand on the positive experiences of those who live or visit there. The process considers historical attributes of people and area, important current features and assets, and the future desires of a community. Placemaking aims to capitalize on these things to further the identity and viability of a place.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 1:
Unfair Negative Perceptions about Frenchtown.

View more information about this Neighborhood Concern

Outcome: Frenchtown is known throughout the region as the vibrant and historic community that current residents know it to be.

Strategy P&NI 1.1: Implement strategic and creative projects that promote the identity of Frenchtown, celebrate its assets and solidify its sense of place.

Action Item P&NI 1.1.1: Develop a guided/walking tour that highlights Frenchtown’s community assets.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, City of Tallahassee (CRA; John G. Riley Center and Museum), Florida Folklife Program (FL Dept. of State), COCA
Action Item P&NI 1.1.2: Work with the John G. Riley Center and Museum to promote and expand the “Soul Voices” Frenchtown Heritage Trail.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (CRA; John G. Riley Center and Museum), local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Florida Folklife Program (FL Dept. of State)

Action Item P&NI 1.1.3: Identify historic places and structures within the neighborhood with door markers.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (CRA; John G. Riley Center and Museum), local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation

Action Item P&NI 1.1.4: Use the funding set aside for a project in the plaza space at The Standard to design, create, and install public art highlighting Frenchtown history.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, City of Tallahassee (CRA; John G. Riley Center and Museum; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, COCA

Action Item P&NI 1.1.5: Organize and host pop-up community art shows within the neighborhood.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, COCA, City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Riley House Museum, Tallahassee Urban League

Action Item P&NI 1.1.6: Write and publish positive opinion pieces about Frenchtown in local and regional newspapers and magazines.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, FT Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Urban League, Nonprofits
Action Item P&NI 1.1.7: Add signature sign toppers to neighborhood street signs.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, City of Tallahassee (Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item P&NI 1.1.8: Install public art that portrays the character or history of the community.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (John G. Riley Center and Museum Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs; Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure), Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, COCA, local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, other nonprofits
Action Item P&NI 1.1.9: Fund Frenchtown artists to create public art that captures the historical essence of neighborhood.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, COCA, local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, local artists, LeMoyne Arts, City of Tallahassee (John G. Riley Center and Museum)

Action Item P&NI 1.1.10: Offer a youth art education program for mural creation that includes graffiti as an artform.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (John G. Riley Center and Museum; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs) COCA, local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Riley House Museum, other nonprofits

Action Item P&NI 1.1.11: Host a "Buy A Brick" fundraising campaign to memorialize and celebrate residents and well-known people from Frenchtown. The campaign should offer patrons the opportunity to purchase personalized bricks which will be installed at Fred Lee Plaza on Georgia and Macomb Streets.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), other nonprofits

Strategy P&NI 1.2: Create opportunities to positively promote the neighborhood.

Action Item P&NI 1.2.1: Adopt and use the fleur-de-lis icon as the official logo for Frenchtown. Use the logo in all Frenchtown related events, flyers, etc.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, local businesses

Action Item P&NI 1.2.2: Host gatherings for neighbors to tell and document stories about Frenchtown.

Action Item P&NI 1.2.3: Create scripts and/or articles from these stories to be used to promote Frenchtown’s history.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, local businesses, COCA, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, ASH Gallery, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, City of Tallahassee (John G. Riley Center and Museum; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)
Action Item P&NI 1.2.4: Host events where people from outside the Frenchtown Community are invited to learn about Frenchtown history. (Ex: festivals, plays, open mic, front porch conversations, storytelling, etc.)

Strategy P&NI 1.3: Enhance Frenchtown Gateways.

Action Item P&NI 1.3.1: Form a working group to work with the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department and the CRA to develop a gateway design concept for Macomb Street between Tennessee Street and Brevard Street.

Potential Partners:Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, City of Tallahassee (CRA; Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Frenchtown Community Action Team, local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Frenchtown Revitalization Council

Action Item P&NI 1.3.2: Identify new and enhance existing locations in the community to install entry way signs.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, City of Tallahassee (CRA; Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Frenchtown Revitalization Council

Strategy P&NI 1.4: Implement strategies to abate litter and illegal dumping throughout the community.

Action Item P&NI 1.4.1: Coordinate monthly neighborhood cleanup activities, including Neighborhood Sweeps that address the whole neighborhood.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (Community Beautification and Waste Management; Housing and Community Resilience; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Urban League, FSU, FAMU, Volunteer Leon, Keep Tallahassee Beautiful, Nonprofits

Action Item P&NI 1.4.2: Coordinate with Keep Tallahassee Beautiful to ensure that all Frenchtown streets are adopted.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, Keep Tallahassee Beautiful, local businesses, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Urban League, City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Nonprofits

Action Item P&NI 1.4.3: Educate the community on how to use Digitally App to report litter and dumping.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (Housing and Community Resilience; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association; Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Urban League, other nonprofits

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 2:
Conserve/Preserve the Historic Resources of Frenchtown.

View more information about this Neighborhood Concern

Outcome: Important historic structures are preserved without hindering neighborhood advancement.

Strategy P&NI 2.1: Protect and revitalize locally significant and historic resources.

Action Item P&NI 2.1.1: Convene a working group of residents and stakeholders to thoroughly investigate the establishment of a historic district and/or a conservation district, identify and preserve locally significant land/buildings within Frenchtown, and collect community input.
The working group would:

Research and evaluate different tools available to protect the history and character of the neighborhood, including significant land/buildings.
Collect and analyze community input.
Develop a list of locally significant properties and work with the neighborhood and city/county partners to develop ideas for the properties on the list.
Determine which properties are viable for strategic acquisition to accomplish the goals of the working group.

Potential Partners:Frenchtown Community Action Team, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department; City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, local businesses, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Urban League, Nonprofits

Action Item P&NI 2.1.2: Establish a committee to guide the renovation, preservation and use of the building at 507 W. Brevard. The Frenchtown Community Action Team (CAT) must be included in the discussions and all endeavors related to the future of the site.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team,City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs), Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, local businesses, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association; Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Urban League, other nonprofits

Action Item P&NI 2.1.3: Develop and implement grants and low interest loan programs to provide funding to repair and upkeep locally significant buildings and homes within the Frenchtown community.

Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs), Frenchtown Community Action Team, Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, local businesses, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Tallahassee Urban League, other nonprofits

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 3:
Underutilization of public spaces, open spaces, and residential and commercial lots within the Frenchtown community.

View more information about this Neighborhood Concern

Outcome: Parks and other public spaces are programmed with activities and are inviting and central to community life in Frenchtown.

Strategy P&NI 3.1: Enhance amenities and host programming and events at Carter-Howell-Strong Park.

Action Item P&NI 3.1.1: Form a committee to gather community input regarding enhancements and programming at Carter-Howell-Strong Park. The committee would be responsible for developing programming at the park and working with the City of Tallahassee Parks Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs Division to implement enhancements at the park.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs; Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure)

Some ideas and issues related to Carter-Howell-Strong Park for the committee to address include water quality of the pond, trash pick-up and installation of additional trees and edible landscaping.

Strategy P&NI 3.2: Enhance other public spaces and vacant lots within Frenchtown for community benefit.

Action Item P&NI 3.2.1: Identify vacant lots in the neighborhood and the existing ownership. Work with residents to develop ideas for improving vacant lots.

Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department; Frenchtown Community Action Team

Action Item P&NI 3.2.2: Install senior amenities at neighborhood parks.

Potential Partners:City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Frenchtown Community Action Team

Action Item P&NI 3.2.3: Add seating throughout the neighborhood. (Ex. Fred Lee Plaza)

Potential Partners: Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Frenchtown Community Action Team, local businesses

Action Item P&NI 3.2.4: Assess vacant lots for additional garden space; assess needs of existing gardens.

Potential Partners: City of Tallahassee (CRA; Housing and Community Resilience; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Frenchtown Community Action Team, Tallahassee Food Network

Action Item P&NI 3.2.5: Work with existing and future HOA/communities within the neighborhood to determine needed enhancement to community spaces.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association, Carolina Oaks Homeowners Association; Goodbread residents, Frenchtown Revitalization Council, Nonprofits

Action Item P&NI 3.2.6: Conduct a tree survey; protect and care for the neighborhood’s trees.
Potential Partners: Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs), Frenchtown Community Action Team, local businesses

Action Item P&NI 3.2.7: Advocate that the City acquire Lee Park and the old SAIL High School building from Leon County School Board. Work with the City to determine the use that is most in line with neighborhood goals.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (CRA, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs, Real Estate), Leon County School District

Action Item P&NI 3.2.8: Establish a resident committee to revitalize the park on the hill north of the cemetery (old tennis court).

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, City of Tallahassee (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)

Action Item P&NI 3.2.9: Fund improvements at the private playground in the Goodbread neighborhood.

Potential Partners: Frenchtown Community Action Team, City of Tallahassee (CRA; Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs), Goodbread residents

Frenchtown Neighborhood First Plan | Placemaking & Neighborhood Image

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 1: Unfair Negative Perceptions about Frenchtown.

Strategy P&NI 1.1: Implement strategic and creative projects that promote the identity of Frenchtown, celebrate its assets and solidify its sense of place.

Strategy P&NI 1.2: Create opportunities to positively promote the neighborhood.

Strategy P&NI 1.3: Enhance Frenchtown Gateways.

Strategy P&NI 1.4: Implement strategies to abate litter and illegal dumping throughout the community.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 2: Conserve/Preserve the Historic Resources of Frenchtown.

Strategy P&NI 2.1: Protect and revitalize locally significant and historic resources.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 3: Underutilization of public spaces, open spaces, and residential and commercial lots within the Frenchtown community.

Strategy P&NI 3.1: Enhance amenities and host programming and events at Carter-Howell-Strong Park.

Strategy P&NI 3.2: Enhance other public spaces and vacant lots within Frenchtown for community benefit.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 1:
Unfair Negative Perceptions about Frenchtown.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 2:
Conserve/Preserve the Historic Resources of Frenchtown.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN 3:
Underutilization of public spaces, open spaces, and residential and commercial lots within the Frenchtown community.