Shurtleff/Bellingham Neighborhood Plan

Community Enhancement Team

The CET is comprised of Chelsea residents committed to implementing change in policies and stereotypes that will promote healthier Chelsea neighborhoods. They meet monthly to carry this work forward. In 2007, the Enhancement Team took on the graffiti problem Chelsea was facing. The team created a space where residents, city officials, business owners and organizations could come together and make plans to solve the issue.

The CET responded to the crisis with door to door outreach and the distribution of magnets with information on how to get rid of and report graffiti. They also organized "Get Out, Paint Out", a day where volunteers painted out vandalized properties much to the pleasure of the affected home owners. 28 volunteers armed with the necessary equipment fanned out in the Shurtleff Bellingham neighborhood and successfully painted over 20 properties struck by graffiti.

The CET is in the process of developing a work plan to confront the trash issues in Shurtleff Bellignham. If you have any interest in working on this issue please contact Cat Dodson.

Planning Charrettes

CND began a multi-year planning and revitalization effort in 2006 by recruiting neighborhood residents to conduct block walks and interviews with neighbors. Participants looked at the conditions of properties, roads, sidewalks, retaining walls, trees, public spaces and commercial properties.

Through this survey, we found that most properties are well maintained. However, each block has at least one problem property, street trash is significant, retaining walls are suffering and improvements to traffic patterns would increase pedestrian safety.

In 2007 CND organized two charettes led by planning consultants of SAS Design. At the charrettes, residents shared what was good and what could be improved in Shurtleff Bellingham. SAS Design incorporated resident aspirations into a master plan that is available in the CND office.

Pattern Book

In connection with the master plan, SAS Design created a neighborhood Pattern Book. This resource is a useful guide to residents who plan on renovating or enhancing the exterior of their houses. The book offers economical suggestions, but sticks to a certain historical aesthetic so to promote a dignified uniformity to the Shurtleff Bellingham housing stock.