Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood Action Plan

Many people choose to live in Hosford-Abernethy (HAND) because of its proximity to jobs and services. Walking, bicycling and public transit are important components of inner-city living.

The Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood is one of the oldest southeast neighborhoods. It was built in an era when people were just learning to live together. When you look at the physical characteristics of the neighborhood -the architecture of front porch society, street-car neighborhoods, closely spaced houses, trees, landscaping and garden, these all lend the ability and necessity for getting to know your neighbor. The area was settled by families, many of Greek, Asian, or Italian backgrounds, which already had a strong sense of family and generational heritage. The attractive surroundings and the closeknit family life helped shape HAND into a fine place to raise a family and to create a neighborhood.

Some of the strong ethnic culture and closeness has diminished but the neighborhood is still a great place to raise kids. The suburbs have proved disappointing to many and the move back to inner-city neighborhoods is growing. HAND has opportunities for all income groups. The values of good “neighborship” are being rediscovered and rekindled. Knowing your neighbors and respecting them is the tool being used to create a renewed sense of community.

The image of the business district has a direct impact on the image of surrounding residential properties. Neighborhood residents want to get to know the people with whom they regularly do business. The neighborhood seeks to promote those personal connections between residents and businesses. The diversity of the neighborhood helps to support the commercial businesses which provide goods and services to neighborhood residents. In addition, businesses that provide jobs and regional services are important contributors to the neighborhood. Mutual respect between residents  and businesses comes from communication which includes the understanding of the operational needs of businesses and the needs of privacy and livability in a residential area.

In order to develop a sense of neighborhood pride and make that sense of pride apparent, the residents and businesses need to encourage sensitive rehabilitation of all neighborhood structures, to inspire the planting of trees and flowers, and to protect existing street trees. This will help promote a quiet, attractive, and well-maintained neighborhood. These characteristics would foster an environment that would promote neighbors using the outdoor resources of the neighborhood. The vision of residents sitting on front porches, strolling in gardens and along streets, playing in parks, and gathering together without fear for their safety. This vision embodies the concept of good “neighborship”. 

(The preceding Vision Statement was developed from input gained at the June, 1987 Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood Development (HAND) General Membership meeting. After breaking into small groups to discuss personal impressions of “what a vital neighborhood means to me,” the small groups shared their visions with the whole of forty individuals. The Steering Committee then fleshed out each phrase into paragraph form in order to capture the consensus of the neighborhood in one statement.)