Blackwell: Then and Now
Greetings!
If you grew up in a neighborhood plagued by drugs, domestic violence, and murder, would you return and call that place home?
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Anthony and Tara are enjoying life in their new BHC home. |
Anthony Clary did. At the age of 27, he and his wife Tara became the proud owners of a new BHC home in Blackwell - but the neighborhood is nothing like what Anthony remembers. One of twelve children, he can still picture growing up in Blackwell when it was filled with undesirable public housing and dangersous conditions on the street.
"Some of the friends I had growing up are alive, some are locked up... it's a reality check. People died, people got shot - I used to see dead bodies, and I just tried not to be numb to it. Blackwell was one of the worst places that anyone could live in," recalled Anthony.
Tara also grew up in the same area. Neither one of them planned on coming back.
"One day I was driving through the neighborhood on my way to work," said Anthony. "I thought to myself, 'Dang, these are some nice houses they're building here! So I told my wife she had to come see the work Better Housing Coalition was doing. We were both blown away by the new community and the solar panels on the houses."
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Anthony and his daughter play safely outside. | Through a partnership with RRHA's HOPE VI program, Better Housing Coalition is transforming the community through the development of 45 new affordable, energy-efficient homes. The new neighborhood, Oak Summit at Goose Creek, no longer resembles the one Anthony remembers from his childhood - the one where his brother was robbed and murdered and where drug dealers roamed the streets. He and Tara are delighted to be homeowners in the up and coming community. They have met and become friends with their neighbors, and feel a real sense of community around them. Anthony, who is a youth mental health counselor, plans to become more engaged in the neighborhood by volunteering at the Blackwell Community Center.
"The Better Housing Coalition lives up to its name," said Anthony. We're excited to grow into our new homes and raise our children there. It's life-changing." Guest correspondent: Matt Latimer, BHC intern |
EarthCraft Virginia names Lincoln Mews Multifamily Renovation Project of the Year
On March 24, Lincoln Mews was announced as the Multifamily Renovation Project of the Year at the second annual Earthcraft Virginia Builder Awards. Acquired by Better Housing Coalition in 2008, Lincoln Mews is the complete revitalization of the apartment complex formerly known as Lincoln Manor. BHC renovated the interiors and exteriors of the apartments, upgrading them with energy-efficient features which reduce residents' utility costs throughout the year.
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Left to right: Bernard Rogers, Jeff Reynolds, Bob Newman, Paul Ferguson, KC McGurren | The revitalization of Lincoln Mews includes the addition of a new Community Center, funded by the Robins Foundation. This building also utilizes green building technologies - including solar panels - and serves as a hub for free and voluntary resident support services. These services, which include after-school programs for children and resouces for adults, are expected to decrease crime rates in the neighborhood. BHC is honored to have received this award from EarthCraft Virginia.
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Thanks to our Affordable Housing Awareness Week Volunteers
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Volunteers at Rockwood Village |
BHC gives special thanks to the individuals and organizations who volunteered in our communities during Affordable Housing Awareness Week (April 25-30). Over the course of one day, fences at Winchester Greens received a fresh coat of paint and two BHC senior communities were landscaped for spring. Volunteers from Capital One cleared a wilderness area for a dog walk at Rockwood Village, which will enable seniors and their pets to get exercise. Mike Street with 106.5 The Beat and Kat Simons with Lite 98 pitched in at Winchester Greens and brought excitement to an already lively group. We appreciate all that our volunteers and community partners do to help improve the lives of our residents and make Richmond a better place to live!
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106.5 The Beat joins volunteers in painting fences at Winchester Greens. |
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Winchester Greens holds First Annual Community Walk for Fitness
BHC's Community Social Work Department coordinated a Walk for Fitness on April 20, with the goal of highlighting how residents can live healthy lifestyles in their own neighborhood. Approximately 90 people attended along with a variety of community partners and vendors. An American Family Fitness Certified Personal Trainer - who is also a resident of Winchester Greens - led the group in warm up exercises, while other representatives from American Family gave away door prizes and passes for one free week at their Chester location.
| American Family Fitness led participants in stretching exercises before their walk. |
After the walk, children participated in an egg hunt in the gardens around the Community Center. Following the egg hunt, they had the opportunity to hold and pet Juicy and Rodger - the floppy-eared rabbits in attendance. As a result of the great feedback from participants, the Community Walk for Fitness will become an annual event at Winchester Greens. |
Governor Bob McDonnell welcomes over 400 to Groundbreakers 2011
BHC held its third annual Groundbreakers celebration on April 5 at Beckstoffers Mill - site of a future BHC mixed-use, mixed-income community. The event honored four local leaders who have inspired positive change in the Greater Richmond community: Bob Sledd (Community Revitalizer), Cullen Rivers, MD (Changer of Lives), Jeanine Harper (Creative Collaborator), and Patrick Farley (Henry David Thoreau Environmental Conservator).
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Governor Bob McDonnell addresses the crowd before the awards ceremony. |
To kick off the awards ceremony, Governor Bob McDonnell welcomed the guests in attendance and commended the award recipients for their great work. The Governor's appearance at Beckstoffers marks the second time he has visited a BHC community; in fall 2010, he appeared at Lincoln Mews to announce Virginia's first housing policy.
The rest of the evening was filled with great food, music, and company. We also thank all of our sponsors for making the event such a success!
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Left to right: BHC Chairman John McCann, Cullen Rivers, Bob Sledd, Patrick Farley, Jeanine Harper, event MC Mary Thompson, and BHC President/CEO T.K. Somanath |
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Uncovering Manchester: A Southern Approach to Richmond
Join the James River Green Building Council for a Community Forum on Thursday, May 19 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m at CRT/tanaka (101 W. Commerce Street, Richmond, VA). Local professionals focused on sustainable architecture, landscape design, land management, engineering, planning and government will discuss the proposed green solution's for Richmond's southern gateway through Old Manchester.
The panel will consist of: Bill Chapman, Bill Chapman Enterprises; Bob Newman, Better Housing Coalition; Camden Whitehead, Sadler & Whitehead; and Alicia Zatcoff, City of Richmond, and will be moderated by John Sydnor.
Appetizers and a cash bar will be available. Click here to register by May 13. The cost is $10 for JRGBC members, $15 for non-JRGBC members, and $5 for students. |
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Home of the Month |
227 E. 13th Street$165,000 This 4-bedroom, 2.5 bath home includes innovate energy-efficient features which reduce utility bills all year long! Open floor plan with a spacious kitchen and two large side dormers that maximize natural light. Available to first-time homebuyers.
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Event Calendar |
May 4, 2011
FREE Renovation Lending Workshop
Presented by BHC's Center for Neighborhood Revitalization
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
May 14, 2011
Historic Tax Credit Workshop
Presented by BHC's Center for Neighborhood Revitalization
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Contact David Herring for more information at
804-644-0546 x37 or email.
May 26 2011
BHC Community Bus Tour
12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Contact Drew Melson for more information at
804-644-0546 x23 or email.
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Contact Us |
Better Housing Coalition changes lives and transforms communities through high quality, affordable housing.
P.O. Box 12117
Richmond, VA 23241
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