Hyper-Local Neighborhood Platform
A city neighborhood replaces Facebook groups with a truly local, resident-owned digital commons.
The Problem
Elmwood residents relied on Facebook and Nextdoor for neighborhood coordination—platforms riddled with ads, algorithmic feeds, and privacy concerns. Important announcements got buried, and residents had no control over their own community space.
The Transition
The neighborhood association migrated to Citinet, creating a local platform hosted across resident devices. No corporate intermediaries, no ads, no algorithmic manipulation.
What They Built
- Event calendar: Block parties, neighborhood watch, and cleanup days
- Resource sharing: Tool libraries, childcare coordination, emergency contacts
- Local bulletin board: Lost pets, recommendations, and community news
- Private messaging: Direct communication between verified neighbors
Community Impact
450 households active within 6 months. Response time for urgent issues (water main breaks, suspicious activity) dropped from hours to minutes. Residents report higher trust and stronger community bonds.
“We own our digital neighborhood now, just like we own our physical one. No algorithm decides what’s important—we do.”
— Jordan Lee, Elmwood Neighbors coordinator
Sustainability
The network runs on volunteer time and minimal hardware costs (~$15/year per household). No subscriptions, no data monetization—just community infrastructure.