Why this neighborhood group is making a comeback

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: Residents of the Whittier neighborhood in central Sioux Falls are coming together with a focus on creating a collective voice moving forward as new developments pop up around them.

Why it matters

  • The Whittier neighborhood was one of the first – if not the first – in the city to have a neighborhood association, but the group disbanded for a variety of reasons during the pandemic. Now, lifetime Whittier resident Lim Bun is taking over as president of the new Whittier Residents Association.
  • It joins about 20 formal neighborhood associations and about 50 neighborhood watch groups citywide, according to Neighborhood & Preservation Planner Diane deKoeyer.
  • While not a direct response to plans for a new Whittier Middle School and potentially a new convention center, Bun hopes the new association will help the neighborhood get a seat at the table in and have a unified response to ongoing discussions about future developments.
"I'd like to see what voice we can bring together again," he said. "It really starts with one, and talking to people very meaningfully and purposefully with no other intent outside of trying to make the lives that we have around this neighborhood better."

Tell me more about the association

It's in the very early stages of restarting, but the initial goal is to get more neighbors aware of the group and start with a few quick and easy projects to gain visibility, Bun said.

The Whittier neighborhood stretches from Weber Avenue (just east of the Falls) to Lewis Avenue near Meldrum Park.

  • It includes both Terry Redlin Elementary and Whittier Middle School.
  • The neighborhood is also home to almost all of the social service agencies that serve the unhoused populations in town – including the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, The Banquet, St. Francis House, and the Union Gospel Mission.

In addition to its fairly sizable geographic footprint, the neighborhood also holds quite a bit of diversity, with more than 70 languages spoken, Bun noted.

By forming an association, the neighbors will have more direct access to city staff, deKoeyer said, as well as the ability to apply for neighborhood grants.

What happens next?

Right now, the association has about a dozen members, Bun said, but he's hoping to see it grow.

"Your individual voice is meaningful," Bun said, "but an associated voice is powerful."