Our West Bayfront

THE MISSION OF OUR WEST BAYFRONT (OWB) IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE WEST BAYFRONT NEIGHBORHOODS BY PROMOTING CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE.

OWB WORKS CLOSELY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS IN A TARGETED, BLOCK BY BLOCK APPROACH TO STRENGTHENING THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE WEST BAYFRONT. OWB PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO PROPERTY OWNERS, TO HELP THEM MAKE REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THEIR BUILDINGS, STRENGTHENING THE TAX BASE, STABILIZING THE MARKET, AND INCREASING PRIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. TYPICAL PROJECTS INCLUDE ROOF REPLACEMENT, WINDOW REPLACEMENT, PAINTING, SIDING, AND PORCH REPAIRS. IN 2021-2022 OWB PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 18 PROPERTY OWNERS, LEVERAGING ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS FROM PROPERTY OWNERS AND GENERATING CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

OUR WEST BAYFRONT WORKS WITH THE CITY OF ERIE'S LAND BANK AND OTHER PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY AND ACQUIRE DETERIORATED PROPERTIES IN NEED OF RENOVATION THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY PRIVATE MARKET CONDITIONS. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THESE PROPERTIES CONTRIBUTES TO OWB'S TARGETED REVITALIZATION GOALS AND HELPS TO STABILIZE THE MARKET IN THE TRANSITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT OWB SERVES. IN ADDITION TO CREATING NEW AFFORDABLE QUALITY HOUSING AND IN SERVICE/OCCUPIED RENTAL ACTIVITY, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THESE PROPERTIES HAS INDIRECT BENEFITS FOR THE ENTIRE BLOCK BY IMPROVING BLIGHTED AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS. IN 2021-22, OWB ACQUIRED 2 PROPERTIES, AND IDENTIFIED A THIRD PROPERTY MOVING THROUGH THE LAND BANK PROCESS FOR FUTURE OWNERSHIP. OWB ALSO BEGAN TO DEVELOP A REDEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING PLAN FOR THESE PROPERTIES PLUS A FOURTH ALREADY IN OWB'S OWNERSHIP. OWB ALSO COMPLETED THE RENOVATION OF A IN SERVICE/OCCUPIED COMMERCIAL SPACE IN A PROPERTY IT OWNS AT 404-06 WEST 8TH STREET, CREATING A HIGH-QUALITY IN SERVICE/OCCUPANCY SPACE AVAILABLE FOR A NEW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. OWB CURRENTLY OWNS A TOTAL OF 3 OCCUPIED RENTAL PROPERTIES.

OWB PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF ERIE AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS TO CONCEPTUALIZE, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMUNITY SPACES INCLUDING PUBLIC PARKS, STREETSCAPES, VACANT LOTS, AND COMMUNITY GATEWAYS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS ENCOURAGE USE OF PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES, HELP RESIDENTS FEEL SAFER AND MORE COMFORTABLE IN PUBLIC SPACES, AND GENERALLY ENHANCE THE APPEAL OF THE COMMUNITY TO STABILIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IN 2021-2022 OWB COORDINATED A VARIETY OF PUBLIC SPACE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AT CASCADE PARK, WORK WAS COMPLETED ON AN ARTISTIC GATEWAY CONNECTING THE WATERFRONT OF PRESQUE ISLE BAY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SECURITY CAMERAS AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING WERE INSTALLED AT MULTIPLE PROPERTIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND VISIBILITY FOR PEDESTRIANS.

OWB WORKS WITH NUMEROUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING TO ACTIVATE PUBLIC SPACES, BUILD COMMUNITY PRIDE, STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS AMONG RESIDENTS, AND SUPPORT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 3500 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES DURING 2021-2022 INCLUDED LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR DAYS, A COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER THAT PROVIDED FREE TAKE-OUT DINNERS TO NEARLY 300 RESIDENTS, EEERIE FALL FEST, WEST BAYFIT, A SUMMER RECREATION SERIES THAT INCLUDE A FARMERS MARKET AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, CLEANUPS, AND MORE.