An effective neighborhood association can turn a not-so-attractive community into a place where buyers want to live. Here are some basic facts you should know if you’d like to form one:

• Neighborhood associations are voluntary. They don’t have any authority to mandate solutions, but they can work with residents and city departments to identify problems and fix them.

• A neighborhood association must first have a vision, then it needs a leadership group that can reach consensus (not an easy goal).

• The next step is to build positive relationships with its elected officials. Nothing carries as much political clout as a capacity crowd of registered voters at a neighborhood meeting around election time.

Source: Charlotte Observer, Martha Catt (03/30/2008)