Community research

“Windshield Survey” on Beverly Hill Illinois

BEVERLY ILLINOIS U.S.A

Housing and zoning:
  You may want to evaluate the typical single family, multi-family, alternative housing, and assisted living type homes for the area.  A visual map showing the boundaries of the community is always helpful.  Make a note of whether or not the residences have a large number of real estate signs on them.  Supportive data could also include:

· any specific areas (and the size of the area) in which houses were in disrepair,

· how many homes were for sale

· how many single-family homes in comparison to multi-family dwellings or senior living complexes,

· average home market price,

· any data regarding proportion of young families with children compared to retirees

· any changes in residency, recent trends in real estate (are the new construction homes build where previous existing homes were torn down? Or was there still available space in this established community?)

Open Space:  Determine the open spaces throughout the community, including vacant lots, green spaces, undeveloped areas, nature areas, and parks.  Supportive data could also include: 

· How many open spaces, parks, or green spaces are available? 

· Does the community appear to be focused on open space availability, parks, divided streets with trees or landscapes parkways?

· Are there minimum lot sizes? 

· How many of these parks and green spaces are park district owned?

· How many of these are City owned?

· How many of these are State owned? Forest preserve district owned?

· Are the people really utilizing the available spaces?

“Commons”:
  Commons refers to areas or establishments in which people gather, socialize, spend leisure time, or use for recreation (e.g. walking, biking, and walking their dogs).  What are the most popular neighborhood hangouts and what subgroup(s) of the population are drawn to those particular places to hang out? Supportive data may include:

· The “closed” hang out places that may be unfriendly to strangers or newcomers?

· Is there any gang activity?

· Popular bars or nightlife?

· Places that draw younger people (Jr. High, high school)?

Safety:
Is the community safe? Environmental aspects or physical aspects that may compromise safety (e.g. community decay, traffic safety issues, road and sidewalk accessibility and quality, crime rates, lighting, safe drinking water, air quality). How do the community safety issues impact your identified community problem or issue?

Signs of community decay:  Identify any areas of the community in which there is evidence of decline of resources, or community decay?

· Abandoned cars,

· Visible trash in the street,

· Levels of noticeable pollution,

· Abandoned houses, businesses, and unfinished structures (boarded up buildings),

· Increased numbers of homeless or panhandlers

Media:
Identify the types of local media available for the community residents.  Does the town have its own paper?  Does the area have its own cable television station?  What types of magazines and print materials are circulated?  (These types of things you will usually find in the front of cafes and stores). Are they bilingual to needs of community?  Do you notice outdoor antennas or dishes?

· Power Point Assignment, please include few nice pictures to

The power point slides

· 5 to 7 slides

· References should be in APA format