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Cherry Street -area apartment buildings with their distinctive and rare Y-shaped staircases are on the National Register of Historic Places
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Changing Cherry Street
In a recent Habitat newsletter, HFH International CEO Jonathan Reckford told about a neighborhood in North Carolina that turned itself around with Habitat's help. The Cherry Street community in Winston-Salem was a "historic African-American community [that] had declined for decades." Representatives from HFH met with neighbors about three years ago.
As Reckford explained, the residents of the area "wanted Cherry Street to be cleared of blighted, vacant housing, and they wanted something done about crime. They had a vision -- to make this neighborhod with such a rich history inviting to young families again."
"The affiliate announced plans to build 16 houses. Because of that commitment, private developers purchased and renovated six houses as well as historic apartment buildings in the area. Soon, businesses, community leaders, schools and other groups came forward with their own resources and big ideas for change.
"In two years, crime [in the area] has dropped by 50 percent, and drug offenses are down more than 70 percent."
The Winston Salem Journal reported that one family was initially concerned about moving to the neighbourhood: "Tomache Jones and her two children moved into one of the Cherry Street Habitat houses in December. She said she was concerned about the area's reputation for drugs, rundown housing and crime, but she has found her fears to have been groundless. Her children enjoy having their own rooms, and the front porch has become a gathering spot for the family, she said."
When Jonathan Reckford toured the area, he spoke with a police officer who had also volunteered for the building project. The officer told Reckford, "If you had been in this community two years ago, I would have been assigned to protect you." With a grand sweep of his hand, he proclaimed, 'Look what we have done....'
"Every family matters," Reckford concluded. "So we have to do more. I want you to remember that what you are doing is of infinite and eternal value. you are building so much more than houses. And together we are building hope for generations to come."
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