The Neighborhood
Cohesion Calculator©
By Parametrix

Background

Parametrix was awarded the contract to complete the environmental analysis for the Interstate 5 highway, transit, pedestrian project connecting Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. The project, known as the Columbia River Crossing (CRC), is a multi-modal improvement project of the Washington and Oregon transportation departments. The project is designed to reduce congestion, improve safety problems, and introduce high capacity transit on a five-mile segment of I-5. Within these five miles, there will be numerous impacts to over two dozen neighborhoods.

As part of the analysis of potential impacts to neighborhoods, the Parametrix team needed to assess neighborhood cohesion, and determine possible impacts to cohesion levels. The team developed a neighborhood cohesion calculator for a comparative analysis of the numerous neighborhoods that will be potentially impacted by the project. Although the calculator itself was not used in the final analysis, it was used to help determine the methods by which to identify impacts. The calculator helps to compare and contrast factors which determine a neighborhood's level of cohesion.

Using the Cohesion Calculator

The Neighborhood Cohesion Calculator is a flexible tool that can be customized to fit the needs of any neighborhood or community, based on the characteristics of the area. When using the calculator, the user group will want to "tune" the calculator to mirror the community being assessed.  Possible criteria for users to consider when assessing their neighborhood’s cohesion include:

1. Gathering Places (schools, churches, parks, grocers)
2. Activities (neighborhood associations meetings, block parties, neighborhood websites/newsletters)
3. Planning (adopted neighborhood plans, city support to neighborhood associations, other planning efforts)
4. Other characteristics (physical divisions within the neighborhood/community, population density)

The Neighborhood Cohesion Calculator reveals, through its use as well as its outputs, the strengths and weaknesses of a given neighborhood’s cohesion. The use of the calculator is intended to lead to the development of neighborhood action plans, and can be used by neighborhood leaders as well as City planners.

Getting the Calculator

Parametrix is proud to offer this tool for free to government agencies, non-profit community development organizations, and neighborhood associations.  Parametrix is available to provide support for new users.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Derek T. Chisholm, AICP.
Derek serves as a Senior Planner with Parametrix and can be reached at 971-322-7942.

Summary Instructions

The steps outlined below can be followed by a small group of neighbors or community development staff, or by large public assemblies. Further details on the use of the calculator are available for downloading as a read-me file that accompanies the Calculator.

1. Start up.   Enter the names of your neighborhoods, and print a large area map(s) for use during the calculator work session.

2. Gather data.   Gather the data for each neighborhood that may be needed for use with the calculator:

   • Calculate population densities

   • Inventory land uses, including gathering places

   • Research organized neighborhood activities

   • Determine activity levels of different neighborhoods and the existence of neighborhood plans

3. Plan the workshop.   Make arrangements for the cohesion workshop. Post notices, invite local leaders, and arrange for an appropriate meeting room with good snacks and beverages.

4. Start with weighting.   Facilitate a conversation to determine the majority or consensus opinion on which factors most significantly affect neighborhood cohesion.

5. Measure each neighborhood.   Local knowledge is important for this step.

6. Run the calculator and use it to determine which neighborhoods need strengthening and which neighborhoods are your best models. Integrate these findings into the City work programs, neighborhood planning efforts etc.

7. Repeat the exercise every two years or so, and see how planning efforts are improving different neighborhoods.

Sample Screen Shot: