Community Block Party Celebrates Long-Term Investment in North Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) will dedicate the organization’s 800th home at 1918 Willow Ave. North in Minneapolis, Monday, June 14 at 6 p.m. The block party will also recognize the completion of 14 additional homes in the surrounding neighborhood.

The event celebrates TCHFH’s long-term commitment to partnering with community members to revitalize North Minneapolis neighborhoods. Of the 800 homes completed, TCHFH has built or rehabbed 244 homes in Minneapolis.

“The dream of homeownership has become a reality for 800 wonderful Habitat partner families in Twin Cities neighborhoods,” said Sue Haigh, president of TCHFH. “This milestone exemplifies the sustained commitment made by TCHFH, leaders from our faith and business communities, and the public sector. This particular celebration draws attention to our shared investment in Minneapolis and revitalizing our neighborhoods.”

TCHFH’s 800th home is located in “Lowell Curve,” a cluster of homes in the Jordan neighborhood of North Minneapolis and formerly the site of Lowell Elementary School. As urban areas expanded and schools required larger sites, the two-acre development became available in 1975 and remained vacant for more than 25 years. Now, Lowell Curve includes new homes developed by Project for Pride in Living (PPL) and TCHFH to raise the quality of life in this neighborhood.

Ward 5 Council Member and Jordan neighborhood resident Don Samuels admires Lowell Curve’s history and intriguing story.

“Lowell Curve not only boasts personality and unique architecture, but the project has given more residents in my ward an opportunity for a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Samuels. “The Minneapolis City Council and committed community organizations have joined forces with Twin Cities Habitat to revitalize and rebuild North Minneapolis communities impacted by the foreclosure and housing crisis. Lowell Curve is a leading example of this vital effort.”

President and Executive Director of PPL Steve Cramer applauds TCHFH on their 800th home. “Twin Cities Habitat is always a great partner and we are very pleased we could work together in developing Lowell Curve,” said Cramer. “Adding so many new affordable homes has positively affected the overall vitality and stability of the Jordan neighborhood.”

As part of Habitat for Humanity International’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI), TCHFH has formed partnerships with community organizations and city governments to bring positive change to struggling neighborhoods of North Minneapolis and the East Side of St. Paul.

Both NRI target areas will host President and Mrs. Carter the first week of October during the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The influx of volunteers and national attention will add momentum to the NRI work ongoing in these communities.

Of the homes dedicated on June 14, three homes are new construction, three are rehabs of foreclosed homes and nine are A Brush with Kindness projects, a program which provides painting, landscaping and repairs to low-income homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe place to live

TCHFH will continue to build or rebuild in Twin Cities neighborhoods with a goal of 230 homes by 2014. 100 of those projects will break ground in foreclosure-impacted neighborhoods increasing property values and stabilizing homeownership in these communities.

About Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
The mission of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity builds community, helping people to be successful homeowners, because homes and families are the foundation of successful communities. The organization achieves this by: building simple, decent and affordable homes, and selling them with zero percent interest mortgages; helping low-income homeowners repair and maintain their homes; and offering Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention counseling. For more info, visit www.tchabitat.org.