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Jan 13, 2009 6:55 pm US/Central
Neighbors Fight Crime With 'Empowerment Zones'
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Frustrated with what their neighborhood was turning into, residents in one part of Fort Worth are now praising their city leaders. Local officials have given homeowners unprecedented power to decide which businesses will be allowed into their neighborhood.
It's called a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone and could become a model for other struggling areas.
The latest empowerment zone was created just south of interstate-30 in east Fort Worth. Residents in that area will soon start seeing big changes, including the long vacant Stripling and Cox Building becoming a new $10 million crime lab.
Ten years ago Shirley Lewis teamed up with other residents to create the Near Southeast Community Development Corporation. After forming the corporation and getting the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone designation, neighbors then knocked out businesses that they felt contributed to crime.
"Ten years ago there were people shooting in the street everywhere you went," Lewis explained. "This is the kind of job that can't be done just by city officials or just by the private sector. You need a partnership."
Lewis' community is one of 16 empowerment zones in Fort Worth. The neighborhood designation offers tax abatements to eligible business and homeowners and helps residents get rid of unpopular businesses.
New Neighborhood Empowerment Zone member Dan Cooper is enthusiastic. "This is great," he said. "It's going to be a big step in revitalizing the whole neighborhood around here."
Cooper and homeowners associations from Meadowbrook went to the Fort Worth City Council to ask for a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone of their own. Their request was approved last week.
"We've got enough gas stations, convenience stores, we don't need those - no more motels," said Cooper. "We want good restaurants and grocery stores."
City officials told CBS 11 News that they're excited to see the commitment and specific goal setting being done in empowerment zones like the one in Meadowbrook. Fort Worth City Planning Manager Charlie Price said, "This is a prototype we'll be using for future empowerment zones and older empowerment zones."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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