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Progress to Date on Emerging Cultural District
- Little Flower Neighborhood
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
After being awarded a $30,000 grant from the DMD last fall, the 10th Street Emerging Cultural District project is proceeding on schedule. The Little Flower Neighborhood Association (LFNA) has received the full $30,000 grant award and the project is in active planning and early implementation phases.
Since the award, LFNA has formally established the 10th Street Emerging Cultural District Committee, which has been meeting regularly since early 2026. The committee has ratified a governing charter and elected officers:
Chair: Joanna Harris
Secretary: Jakob Morales
Grant Compliance Officer: Gabi Weldy
The committee currently includes representation from the Little Flower Neighborhood Association, Emerson Heights Community Organization, and Grace Tuxedo Park Neighborhood Association, as well as community members at large, with outreach underway to the Community Heights and Irvington neighborhoods. To empower this committee’s decision-making, we have developed a Committee Charter that empowers this joint body to make primary decisions on district development and fund allocation. This governance structure intentionally shifts sole authority away from Little Flower Neighborhood Association, promoting an equitable, shared decision-making process for the entire district. We believe this will be successful in promoting committee independence while protecting LFNA’s interest as the fiscal agent. And finally, to ensure the long-term sustainability of this work, the group intends to establish a permanent organization, potentially a 501(c)(3), to officially codify this multi-neighborhood collaboration beyond the life of the current grant.
Significant community engagement has also taken place, including door-to-door outreach, a resident survey gathering feedback on neighborhood identity, vision, and naming, and multiple visioning sessions held at neighborhood community meetings. We’ve held listening sessions in Emerson Heights and Little Flower, and we are planning an upcoming listening session in Grace-Tuxedo. Corridor identity and branding work is underway, with naming options being evaluated alongside community input. Business outreach along the 10th Street corridor is also in progress. A tactical urbanism application has been approved and is set to get underway in May. Vendor procurement and contracting for art, beautification, and placemaking items is expected to begin in the coming months, with community events and installation work planned for later in 2026.
What’s to Come:
Cultural events are being planned for later in 2026, pending branding finalization and block party permitting. Partnerships with the Emerson Theater, J. Clyde’s, and Clear Vibes Concerts will support programming that engages with youth and intergenerational community.
Two new art installations will beautify the 10th Street corridor. Artist selection and design work for the Emerson Theatre music history installation and building mural are in early planning. Procurement will follow branding finalization. The committee is evaluating mural location(s). A signal box mural collaboration with a recent Scecina Memorial High School graduate is also anticipated. The desire is to work with three artists based in or near the district and the broader Near Eastside.
Outreach and engagement with local businesses along the corridor will deepen as installations and events are planned. They will be invited to participate in planning, events, and branding rollout. In addition, outreach to schools, faith-based institutions, and businesses will expand the number of participants in the grant effort.
The committee is actively exploring additional funding opportunities and potential in-kind partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Early conversations are underway regarding co-programming, sponsorships, and volunteer support as the project advances. Any secured partnerships or additional funds will be reported in the project completion report.
How You can Help:
Artist referrals: Do you know a local artist (young or old or in between) who lives in and knows our neighborhood? And has experience in creating site specific murals or sculptural installations?
Local business outreach: Are you a local business owner along the 10th Street corridor? Do you shop in the area? Do you enjoy getting to know shop owners?
Tactical Urbanism: Do your ears perk up when you hear the words “curb bumpouts” and “pedestrian safety improvements?”
Block party planning: Do you know the elements of an inclusive, fun and safe block party? Are you a planning guru?
Placemaking items (benches, planters, bike racks, branded vinyl banners): Are you an exterior designer? (That’s a play on words….)
Data dashboards: Do you have experience evaluating data and publishing engagement results to the community?
Partnerships: Do you have contacts at or work with schools, businesses, and cultural institutions in the area?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please send us an email littleflowerneighborhood@gmail.com with your ideas and contact information. We will be in touch to learn more!