The SEDD Safe Neighborhoods committee surveyed the area marked in red as a possible model neighborhood for District 5. No decision has been made. It is a starting point. Four meetings will be held in the month of June (1 for each district) and one with the Ouachita N.A.A.C.P. to get input from residents about the neighborhood selected and to consider any changes.

Criterion: The purpose of the model neighborhoods is to provide a sample of the “Southside Dream” that will give a glimpse of what the Southside can become over the next 25 years. The criterion used to select the first model neighborhood is:

• The neighborhood must have open ditches
• The neighborhood must telephone phones and overhanging wires
• The neighborhood must feature mostly home owners rather than renters
• There must be vacant lots in the area selected
• The neighborhood must be near a highly traveled street so that it can be seen

In July and August SEDD will make home visits to explain the plans to residents.

Dream Neighborhood Features

•  The model neighborhood will be a prototype of what SEDD envisions for the entire district. When completed the model neighborhoods will feature:
• No open ditches
• Underground utilities (No telephone poles and hanging wires)
• Solar Panels for each dwelling
• A community policing housing unit, police shot spotters, surveillance cameras
• A neighborhood playground, park and mini health clinic
• Coordinated landscaping
• Extensive Lighting
• 5G Internet 

What will be the cost?

Conservative estimates are about $500 million over 25 years. 

We will seek grants and help from state Outlays.
We will use funds generated by the present hotel tax in our district.
We will ask the City of Monroe to help us.

As a last resort we may have to tax ourselves to make the Southside Dream a Reality