Beasley Neighbourhood Association creates "Neighbourhood Charter"

In the spheres of urban planning and social welfare, how much weight is given to documents which are not supported by municipal policy?  Can community organizations and neighbourhood associations create affective change even though their agendas are not officially supported by City Hall?  Moreover, where is municipal policy necessary and when should it be used to support community initiatives?

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I attended the Annual Beasley Neighbourhood BBQ a few weeks ago.  Although across the road from where I live is considered a different neighbourhood (according to lines drawn on a map perhaps 5 decades ago or more) the apartments on the east side of James St. North are considered to be part of Beasley.

The neighbourhood has a long history of neglect.  Since the 1980s, Beasley has been considered the poorest neighbourhood in the city of Hamilton.  There are many reasons for this which I may write about later.  Regardless, many attribute Beasley's present amount of community engagement to its history of neglect.  The fact that the new "Neighbourhood Charter" was introduced at the neighbourhood BBQ a few weeks ago shows me - even more - just how engaged and passionate a lot of community members are about where they live. 

Being perhaps the first neighbourhood in Canada to establish a Neighbourhood Charter, the purpose of the document is to redefine what Beasley is to its residents, and to determine what Beasley should look like in the wake of downtown redevelopment projects and gentrification; both which are currently encroaching on the neighbourhood.

Through working with City Hall, numerous organizations relevant to the area and countless individuals, the Neighbourhood Charter is said to define what the neighbourhood believes to be the best way to develop the neighbourhood in the future.

Although The Charter is generally thought of as a positive thing by City Hall and received ample support at the BBQ, I question how much institutional integrity The Charter actually has.  One reason why I question this is because of the newly proposed development at Cannon and Mary Streets.

A development of this scale seems too large for community groups to not put up a big fuss, especially considering the sites location across from the Good Sheppard Centre and Beasley Park.

Far more than its institutional integrity (or lack-there-of), the purpose of the Neighbourhood Charter, I am sure, is to deepen the organizational relationships which community groups and allied City Departments share.

This seems to be how community groups will be able to strengthen and legitimize their agendas - which over time may lead to policy.  As for now, one step at a time for Beasley.