Visual Survey of Fairview Hills

Courses Involved: ECON 002 and HD FS 312W
Faculty Involved: Daniel Lago, Ph.D. and Barbara Wiens-Tuers

This project involved having students in ECON 2 and HDFS carry-out a field research project in teams to assess the redevelopment status of "street blocks" in an areas adjacent to a newly established church outreach program - the Nehemiah. Communication with local faith-based organizations is an area of activity cited in the logic model and proposal. The Pleasant Valley Assembly of God (PVAG) has acquired an abandoned church and plan to use it as a site for an outreach ministry in a blighted local neighborhood adjacent to the Fairview Hills area. Dan Lago and Barbara Wiens-Tuers worked with Jean Johnstone, (Vice President for Ministry in the Altoona Regional Health System), and Larry Carter (Director of the City of Altoona Planning Commission), as well as Pastor Jim Balzano, (PVAG) to develop an observational survey instrument and study procedure that included use of public property data on each parcel. The study was reviewed and approved by Penn State's Office for the Protection of Human Subjects and students were provided a PowerPoint visual training program and technical session in evaluating dwelling and property features. The students converged on the neighborhood to do ratings; they were accompanied by church members and worked in groups for security in the neighborhood. Lunch was served to both groups of volunteers in the shell of the abandoned church in the midst of early rehabilitation - it was a very meaningful event for our students. Approximately 50 students rated seventeen street blocks totaling approximately 270 properties. Twenty percent of properties were independently rated twice to provide a reliability estimate. The data are currently being input into a statistical analysis program and a report ranking street blocks and ranking their current status will be completed by the end of summer. As part of this project a color photograph was taken of each property/dwelling to provide a baseline archive of property status in 2007 for comparison with future status.