Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc. has plans to rehab at least 5 houses on Whitney Place this Fall and Winter. They are located at 178, 197, 198, 245 and 251 Whitney Place. The non-profit is also attempting to add 204 Whitney to this project.
All of these houses are vacant and have been so for over 5 years. Their histories follow the usual pattern of owner-occupied, to out-of-town owner rentals, to vacancy. The houses at 178 (above, and rear view, right), 197 (below) and 198 Whitney (last photo), have been owned by the city and were previously scheduled for demolition. 178 and 198 are single-family houses and will be restored as such. The others are 2-family houses and will be restored as 2-families.
The rehabbing work itself will involve a complete gutting of the interior
of these houses. Heart of the City's
Stephanie Simeon plans on starting a block club
for this part of Whitney, in order to continue the positive effect that the
rehabs will have on the street. Stephanie points out that these blocks of
Whitney Place have been devoid of investment for years and one of her goals is
to change the atmosphere of neglect and disinvestment that has characterized
the neighborhood.
The scope of HOCN's Whitney Place project is not limited to just these
houses. Attempts are being made to purchase other houses on Whitney to expand
the scope of the project.
Awesome! This is what we need more of!