One Street @ a Time
NEWS RELEASE
This news story by WBNS-10TV aired on October 12-13, 2013. Please click the following link:
NEWS RELEASE
This news story by WBNS-10 TV aired on March 30, 2014. Please click the following link:
http://www.10tv.com/content/sections/video/index.html?ooid=p0aHVubDpy25ApU6Ytp2p0gOTpbs5qXw
PARTNERS
CENTRAL OHIO COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION (COCIC)
County Land Bank
CITY OF COLUMBUS
City Land Bank
Land Development Office
CHASE BANK
BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH
"One Street @ a Time" Community Development and Housing Project
The One Street @ a Time - Community Development and Housing Project (CDHP), is an extension of current services provided by the Gertrude Wood Community Foundation (GWCF). The CDHP will consist of the renovation of properties in the target area serviced by the GWCF: Alum Creek Dr. to the east; Parsons Ave. to the west; E. Main St. to the north; and Frebis Ave. to the south. The Driving Park Subdivision is located within these boundaries.
The project will create quality, livable, and affordable housing options in a disenfranchised and economically depressed inner city area of Columbus, Ohio. Following the completion of the renovation, properties will be sold or rented to low to moderate income Columbus residents whose income are either at or below 80% of the area median income. Rental property will be available to Section 8 certificate holders or families with the ability to pay the fair market rent value.
The goal of the CDHP is to increase the availability of quality and affordable housing in the Driving Park area and surrounding communities through renovation/rehabilitation and new construction.
The CDHP objectives are:
- Through education and training a minimum of 30 low to moderate income families whose income are either at or below 80% of the area medium income will be educated and prepared for successful homeownership or lease/rental options.
- Through renovation, the number of vacant and abandoned dwellings in the target area will be reduced by a minimum of 50 units.
- Through education and on-the-job training a maximum of 50 youth will be employed and receive certification in the construction industry.
A concentrated effort will be made to revitalize sections of the target community One Street @ a Time. The GWCF will coordinate with other local and county organizations to secure additional improvements (e.g., demolition, road/street repair, street lighting, sidewalk replacement, community gardens, etc.) on the streets where renovation will occur. The GWCF will utilize the One Street @ a Time approach as the conceptual framework for future community development in the target area.
The project will create and launch a youth career pathways program to promote training, employment and economic development in the community and to provide human resources to assist with the construction and renovation stages of the project. Over a three year period, 50 youth and young adults (ages 18-35) will be recruited from the target area and provided with on the job training that leads to certification in the construction industry. The GWCF will initially work with an existing program (tentatively the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation/COWIC) to assist with recruiting, training and certifying youth/young adults for the CDHP apprenticeship program. Long term plans consist of working with various organizations to create an independent, city-wide apprenticeship program for inner city youth and young adults.