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Mosaic Café's "Community Give Back Night" to Benefit BHC

Better Housing Coalition will receive a portion of proceeds on Wednesday, May 16 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. as the beneficiary of this charitable event hosted by Mosaic Café.  Please join us for a fun evening with delicious food and drinks.  Just be sure to tell the hostess you're there for Better Housing Coalition!

Can't make it next Wednesday?

Donate Online

and we'll set a place card in your honor noting your gift to BHC.

Be our "virtual" guest!

Guest bartenders will serve up the fun!

T.K. Somanath, BHC President/CEO

Lissy Bryan, BHC Board Member

Wheat McDowell, BHC Board Member

Karl Bren, GreenVisions Consulting, former BHC Board Member

(pictured below from left to right)

Our guest bartenders welcome generous tips, which will go straight to Better Housing Coalition!

   Click here to visit the event page on Facebook. 

   Please share it with your friends!

DATE: Wednesday, May 16

TIME: 5:00 - 9:00 pm

LOCATION: Mosaic Café, 6229-A River Road, Richmond, VA 23229

RSVP: We recommend making reservations at 804-288-7482 or at www.mosaicedibles.com.

BHC Single-Family Homes: Building Blocks of Neighborhood Revitalization  

Home ownership is the stabilizing influence in any neighborhood, playing a critical role in achieving vibrant, mixed-income communities.  BHC provides affordable home ownership opportunities to first-time homebuyers in emerging neighborhoods such as Church Hill and Blackwell. 

Rendering of 1203 - 1205 N. 28th Street currently under renovation.

BHC's homes are selling at a brisk pace this spring, and we are on track to build and renovate 14 single-family homes in 2012.  New homeowners include individuals, couples, young families and single head-of-household with children.  

"BHC homes are high-quality, low-maintenance and energy-efficient, which enables residents to live comfortably while retaining a significant portion of their income," said David Herring, VP of BHC's Center for Neighborhood Revitalization.  "We renovate and construct houses in established, traditional, walkable neighborhoods within close proximity to downtown Richmond so residents can enjoy the numerous amenities of urban living."

Click here for current home ownership opportunities.

Save The Date: Historic Tax Credit Workshop

BHC's Center for Neighborhood Revitalization (CNR) is pleased to present a Historic Tax Credit Workshop on Saturday, June 9, where you can learn how to make the most of Virginia's Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program.  The workshop is sponsored by Carlyle Associates. 

Topics will include:

• Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits - The Application Process
• Syndicating Historic Tax Credits - Getting Cash from your Project

Cost is $15 to cover workshop materials.  RSVP required.

DATE: Saturday, June 9, 2012

TIME: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Walter D. Moses Building - 103 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220.  This building is a current tax credit project; time will be allowed to tour the building.

RSVP:  Please contact David Herring at 804-644-0546 x37 or d.herring@betterhousingcoalition.org.

Blight Seminar Recap

In case you missed it, CNR held its 'Vacant & Blighted Property' seminar on Saturday, April 14.  Led by Lane Pearson, CNR's Program Director, and presenters from the City Attorney's office and the City's Planning and Development Review Department, the seminar provided attendees with key information about addressing blight in their neighborhoods:

• The first line of defense against blighted properties is the City of Richmond's Code Enforcement team.  Code compliance issues can be reported by calling 804-646-4169 or via http://seeclickfix.com/richmond.
• The City of Richmond, through its Spot Blight Abatement Program, can seize a property through eminent domain.  Derelict Building Receivership legislation will go into effect on July 1, 2012, which will allow localities to petition a circuit court to become a receiver for a property that has been deemed "blighted" under the Spot Blight Abatement process.
• Problem properties can be brought to the attention of BHC's Center for Neighborhood Revitalization.  CNR will work to clear title on the property and will also work to find a responsible purchaser for the property.

Click here for BHC's event calendar with more upcoming workshops.

Join BHC for a Community Bus Tour

BHC invites you to join us for our final bus tour of the season on Wednesday, May 23 from 12 - 2 pm.  On our tour, you will see some of our latest and most innovative revitalization initiatives throughout Greater Richmond.  We will also discuss some of the issues facing affordable housing in the region.  Lunch and parking will be provided.

To register or learn more, please contact Drew Melson at d.melson@betterhousingcoalition.org or 804-644-0546 x 23.

Beckstoffer's Mill, a historic lumber mill newly transformed into lofts and apartments in Church Hill, will be among the tour stops.

Volunteers spruce up BHC Communities during Affordable Housing Awareness Week  

BHC extends a huge thanks to the 40+ volunteers who participated in beautification projects on April 25.  VCU volunteers gave the fences at our Cary 2000 community a fresh coat of paint while volunteers from the Richmond Association Of Realtors board of directors, Franklin Federal Savings Bank, and Lite 98 landscaped the community gardens and painted fences at Winchester Greens.  The results look great and are much enjoyed and appreciated by residents.

"The goal of Affordable Housing Awareness Week is to raise awareness about the challenges of affordable housing in the Richmond area," said Laura Lafayette, executive director of the Richmond Association of Realtors and BHC board member.  "We do this by offering educational programs during the week as well as opportunities for area citizens to be part of the solution by volunteering with one of our non-profit partners to help them build or repair homes and enhance their communities.  BHC projects such as planting flowers in the Peace Garden, painting, and building walking paths for seniors have inspired many of our volunteers to become even stronger advocates for affordable housing - and that's what this week is all about."

Lite 98's Shelley Perkins broadcasted live from Winchester Greens as volunteers tended to the community garden.

Visit our Facebook page to view more photos.