BNA Goals and Objectives

The Bessemer Neighborhood Association meets regularly to pursue our mission of improving the quality of life in Bessemer. Our goals and objectives are constantly being revised.

Our current goals include:

• Increase our active membership.



• Fight urban blight and work to beautify our community.



• Develop programs and activities which give our youth alternatives to life in the streets.



• Work in conjunction with elected officials and law enforcement to reduce crime throughout our community.



• Improve educational opportunities for all ages.

We are in the process of developing specific objectives to help meet these goals. One specific objective we have discussed is identifying dilapidated structures within our community and working with the city to tear down those structures which are beyond repair and rehab those which can be saved and made an asset to the community.

Carrying this objective one step further, we are targeting the old apartment building on 19th Street South between Clarendon and Dartmouth Avenue. This building has for years been an eyesore, and recently has become a danger and has been declared a public health threat. Removing this building will lift the spirits of the people of the south side of Bessemer, as they will not be looking at that piece of residential blight any longer.

This old building has become a symbol of "old Bessemer" to the people of the community. This is what visitors see as they drive along 19th street, one of the busiest streets in the neighborhood. The Bessemer Neighborhood Association says there is a "renewed" Bessemer coming, and this building is not going to be a part of it.