City of Rome Comprehensive Plan Community Profile TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview and Development History........................................................................................1 Demographic Overview...........................................................................................................5 Issues, Opportunities, and Challenges................................................................................5 Population............................................................................................................................5 Households..........................................................................................................................5 Race ....................................................................................................................................6 Age ......................................................................................................................................6 Educational Attainment........................................................................................................7 Income Levels .....................................................................................................................8 Economic Profile ...................................................................................................................11 Issues, Opportunities and Challenges...............................................................................11 Griffiss Air Force Base Closure .........................................................................................11 Rome CBD Master Plan ....................................................................................................12 East Rome Business Park.................................................................................................13 Important Economic Development Organizations and Programs......................................13 Industry Mix .......................................................................................................................14 Retail Trends (1992-1997).................................................................................................16 Retail Sales .......................................................................................................................19 Per Capita Demand...........................................................................................................19 Agriculture .........................................................................................................................20 Housing.................................................................................................................................21 Issues, Opportunities, and Challenges..............................................................................21 General Housing Characteristics.......................................................................................21 Characteristics of Rental Housing .....................................................................................22 Assisted Housing...............................................................................................................22 Characteristics of Owner Occupied Housing.....................................................................23 Housing Assistance Programs ..........................................................................................24 Consolidated Plan 2000 ....................................................................................................24 Land Use Analysis ................................................................................................................27 Issues, Opportunities and Challenges...............................................................................27 Inside District.....................................................................................................................28 Outside District ..................................................................................................................30 Natural Resources and Environment ....................................................................................31 Issues, Opportunities and Challenges...............................................................................31 Waterbodies ......................................................................................................................31 Wetlands............................................................................................................................32 Floodplains ........................................................................................................................33 Rome Sand Plains.............................................................................................................33 Brownfields........................................................................................................................34 Historic Resources & Heritage Tourism................................................................................37 Issues, Opportunities, and Constraints..............................................................................37 Listings in the National and State Registers of Historic Places .........................................38 Locally-Designated and Protected Historic Resources .....................................................39 Other Properties of Significance........................................................................................39 Comprehensive Planning, Zoning, and Local Ordinances ................................................40 Local Organizations Active in Historic Preservation ..........................................................42 Heritage Tourism...............................................................................................................43 Recreation.............................................................................................................................47 i Issues, Opportunities, and Challenges..............................................................................47 Public Recreation Facilities ...............................................................................................47 Public Recreation Programs..............................................................................................51 Privately-Owned Recreation Facilities...............................................................................52 School Facilities ................................................................................................................53 Recent Recreation Initiatives.............................................................................................53 Infrastructure.........................................................................................................................57 Issues, Opportunities and Constraints ..............................................................................57 Water.................................................................................................................................57 Wastewater .......................................................................................................................57 Water and Sewer Service Extensions ...............................................................................58 Regional Access................................................................................................................59 Streets ...............................................................................................................................59 Traffic Volumes and System Operation.............................................................................59 Parking ..............................................................................................................................60 Transit ...............................................................................................................................61 Bicycle and Pedestrian System.........................................................................................61 Utilities...............................................................................................................................61 Services at Griffiss Business and Technology Park..........................................................61 Community Services .............................................................................................................63 Issues, Opportunities and Challenges...............................................................................63 Government.......................................................................................................................63 Schools..............................................................................................................................63 Higher Education...............................................................................................................69 Library ...............................................................................................................................69 Health Services .................................................................................................................69 Police Department.............................................................................................................70 Fire ....................................................................................................................................70