South Side Neighborhood Plan

JIMA Studio partnered with SmithGroup to create a comprehensive neighborhood plan for the South Side neighborhood of Sandusky, Ohio. Over the past several years, the City of Sandusky has engaged in citywide and neighborhood specific planning processes to expand infrastructural improvements and support quality of life. 

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The start of the neighborhood planning process included extensive community engagement aimed at improving transparency between neighborhood residents and city government. The plan includes recommendations for neighborhood branding, economic development, infrastructure, and connectivity. JIMA led the Parks and Open Strategy and supported the Housing Strategy through the proposal of adaptive reuse of the Mills School. Mills School was a  former elementary school that served as a temporary recreation center for South Side.. It is envisioned as a community hub to bring new supportive social programs and improve housing options in the neighborhood. The site is redesigned to increase access to quality green spaces and bring new desired programs, like community gardens, to the neighborhood.

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