Spring 2016  
Opening Doors Newsletter
From your friends at NeighborWorks Lincoln 
 
In This Issue
Explore New Interactive Map
Give to Lincoln Day
NeighborWorks Week in June
Antelope Square is Official
11th Street Project Wins Award
Beautification Blooms in Clinton
Opening Doors Events
Q uick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Explore NWL Impact on New Interactive Map


NeighborWorks Lincoln is excited to unveil its new interactive tool that provides a visual of the city-wide impact YOU have helped make over the past 30 years by supporting our mission. Within this map, users are able to activate various layers that each represent a different NWL activity. Zoom-in capabilities allow the viewer to better see the specific areas of Lincoln that have been affected by NWL's mission. Details of each program or project are also accessible. 

Our work is not possible without the love and support of our partners, funders and the Lincoln community. Thank you for helping us keep Lincoln great, one neighborhood and one home at a time. A very special thank you to our dear friend, Kurt Elder who worked diligently to make this project happen! Please click here*   and discover what NeighborWorks Lincoln has been up to all this time!

*Map is also accessible on our website.
Give to Lincoln Day is Around the Corner
NeighborWorks Lincoln is excited to join the 348 amazing organizations participating in Give to Lincoln Day on May 26th, 2016! We hope that you will show how much you love our great city by making a gift to NeighborWorks Lincoln and other causes you hold dear.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help NeighborWorks Lincoln and other nonprofits continue the work that helps keep Lincoln one of the best places to live! Donors can give anytime between May 1st and the end of the day on May 26th. We sincerely hope you will consider supporting NeighborWorks Lincoln on this year's Give to Lincoln Day. To learn more, visit givetolincoln.razoo.com!

NeighborWorks Lincoln GTLD Special Event!
After you give on May 26th, we invite you to an open house at one of our newly constructed single family homes in the Clinton neighborhood! The house at 1525 N 28th Street will be open at two different times that day: from 12PM to 1PM and from 5PM to 6:30PM. You will also be able to see two other real estate development projects in progress on the same block! NWL staff will be available at all times for any questions you may have. 

Mark Your Calendars: NeighborWorks Week June 4-12


During NeighborWorks Week (June 4-12), NeighborWorks organizations across the country will mobilize tens of thousands of residents, business people and government officials in a week of neighborhood change and awareness. NeighborWorks Lincoln is hosting two events.

Wednesday, June 8 - Neighbor Powered Networks will debut at 9th & D, from 4 PM to 7 PM. A group of local resident leaders will host a 'hands-on' event focused on sustainability and community engagement. Community Crops will demonstrate how to start your own garden.  City staff and environmental groups will provide recycling information. There will be food trucks, the Smoke House, music, and 'make it-take it' activities for youth. Neighbor connections will be an important part of this event, providing opportunities to try out a new website connecting residents or participate in 'Story Core' where you can share a story about your neighborhood. 

Thursday, June 9 - You are invited to celebrate NeighborWorks Lincoln's 30th Anniversary with a House Warming from 5 PM to 7 PM at 2530 Q Street. There will be food, music, face painting, games, and tours of the historic Reynolds house, which now serves as our office. As a special tribute to serving Lincoln for 30 years, there will be 30 works of art focusing on "home matters." Artwork on display will also be available for purchase. For the full invite, go to our website!

 
Antelope Square is Official

NeighborWorks Lincoln has embarked on a wonderful new venture with Assurity Life Insurance and Nebraska Home Sales Realtor, Russell Meyer. The three partners have been diligently working on the idea of a beautiful, upscale 24 unit townhome complex around 22nd and Q Street, named Antelope Square. This development will only enhance the positive transformation that has been occurring along Antelope Creek Valley and in East Downtown. There will be a slight variation in styles and units, but each will have a fresh urban look. 

The townhomes will be available for purchase by NeighborWorks Lincoln first-time homebuyers as well as market rate buyers. These townhomes will make for the perfect home for those who want to be within walking distance of all that downtown Lincoln has to offer! The wheels were officially set in motion after the project received final approval from the City Council. Antelope Square will be built in two phases, and it is hopeful that construction will begin in summer of 2016. For more information on Antelope Square, call the NeighborWorks Lincoln office at 402-477-7181, or look out for the occasional project updates on our Facebook page.
11th Street Project Wins Community Development Award
Left to Right: David Landis, Urban Development; Pat Anderson-Sifuentez, NWL & Everett N.A.; Greg Baker, Everett N.A.; Governor Pete Ricketts; Matt Schaefer, Everett N.A. 

The Everett Neighborhood Association was honored to accept the City of Lincoln's 2016 Community Development Week award on March 28th, 2016 for the 11th Street Streetscape project. The Governor presented the award at the State Capitol as part of a statewide recognition of the importance of community development activities.

The project was completed last fall and includes the planting of street trees and installation of a small community plaza at Klein's Corner as well as trash and recycling receptacles and signage. Bike racks were custom made by TMCO, a local company that donated its fabrication time. The Neighborhood Association spearheaded construction and placement of a sign to guide visitors on a walking tour of the area's historic homes. Environmental concerns were addressed with pervious pavement at Klein's Corner and bio-retention planting areas at each intersection. Street improvements include painted bike lanes, bump-outs at intersections for easier pedestrian movement, diagonal parking, a traffic circle at 11th and "D" streets and Lincoln's first on-street bicycle parking.

Technical assistance for the project was provided through the Greening America's Capitals program, a partnership among the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In late 2011, the EPA hired a design firm to develop plans with the assistance of many City departments including Planning, Parks and Recreation, Urban Development and Public Works and Utilities. The Neighborhood Association went door to door to invite everyone in the area to a three-day design workshop to identify the area's strengths and challenges.

In 2012, the City hired The Clark Enersen Partners to prepare construction plans for the project, which included major storm water system improvements. Throughout the process, the Neighborhood Association sponsored meetings to keep residents and businesses informed.

The budget for the project included $950,000 from Lincoln's Community Development Block Grant entitlement. The Public Works and Utilities Department provided $50,000 from the street rehabilitation fund and $139,390 from the watershed management fund.
Beautification Effort Blooms in the Clinton Neighborhood 
"Our tulips are up and most are looking very good. The people on our block are very appreciative of the grant we received from NeighborWorks (Lincoln) to purchase the bulbs.

In summer 2015, I requested and received $147.66 from NeighborWorks (Lincoln), with which I purchased 200 tulip bulbs of various colors from Campbell's Nursery. I distributed them to 12 homes on our block of Dudley Street between 32nd and 33rd streets, and also to two families on the block between 30th and 32nd street on Dudley. Everybody agreed to plant them in their front yards.

Now spring has come and most of the tulips are up and are in bloom. This project really has added to the nice appearance of our block as the weather has warmed up. Some residents created special beds in their front yards for these tulips, which enhanced the looks of their property. This was definitely a project that was of benefit to our little corner of the neighborhood."

-Bob Reeves, Clinton Resident

Tulips in full bloom in various locations in Clinton neighborhood.
Opening Doors Events
Please join us at one of our upcoming Opening Doors events, where you can meet staff and volunteers from NWL and learn a little bit more about all of the work we are doing to revitalize the Lincoln community.
 
At these information sessions you'll learn more about our mission and hear firsthand stories from individuals whose lives have been impacted by the work that we do.
 
Opening Doors Events are being held at our training facility on the third Tuesday every other month for one hour with light refreshments provided. The remaining dates for 2016 are May 17th, July 19th and September 20th. Please register here or email Mary Nelson at [email protected] to reserve your spot today!