Christians may not believe in reincarnation for themselves, but one local minister is working hard to see a neighborhood of abandoned houses reborn as something he believes is far better. In a dramatic display to announce his plans for new housing on Kehr Street and Woodlawn Avenue on the city's East Side, Reverend Darius Pridgen of True Bethel Baptist Church, along with Mayor Byron Brown and several church and city leaders, held a press conference yesterday, and then the mayor ordered the on-the-spot demolition of the dilapidated house they were standing directly in front of.
Eight structures in all will be taken down--six on Woodlawn and two on Kehr--and replaced with four single-family homes with plenty of green space surrounding them. "These homes are unsalvageable and have deteriorated to the point of not being rehab-able," Brown said. "Through a partnership with Bethel, we can stabilize the neighborhood. This once proud community can be proud again, not just an eyesore that endangers the lives and properties of those living around it."
The demolition is expected to be over in a few weeks, and the new homes the Reverend described as West Coast eclectic should be fully completed at this time next year. "This won't be the type of housing you would typically see here," Rev. Prigeon said, "but the residents should be very proud.
Brown added, "The church is the most stable organization in this neighborhood. Businesses have gone--the marriage of the church and the city only makes sense. Positive partnerships get things done."
In answering a question about the many properties demolished since he's taken office, Brown didn't have a specific number, but he rattled off the areas, "Mid-Main, West Side, Fruit Belt, Woodlawn Avenue, around several public schools." He went on to say that the schools are making good use of the green space, parking lots and outdoor learning labs the demolitions have afforded them.
"Let's not forget," Brown said, "we live in a city that was built for 580,000 residents, and we're at 290,000 at present. We're looking at reducing density and adding green space."
Wardell Dolphis, who operates a garage on Kehr, said he's watched the house on the corner of Woodlawn and Kehr for years. "It gets rebuilt over and over. It belonged to an older woman who died, and her son fixed it up, and then he sold it to his daughter who also tried to keep it up." As a rental unit, he said, "People talk real nice and move in, and then they ruin it. There were a lot of nice properties around here, then people die or get old."
It's estimated that the entire project, will carry a price tag of 4 to 5 million dollars, and Brown assured the community that the permitting process would be fast tracked. Rev. Pridgen said that some of the houses will be subsidized and others will be market rate.
In addition, True Bethel will take over a firehouse down the street, operating it as an emergency facility where neighborhood people can go for help with food, clothing and services. It will be open to the public with an after hours hotline. "I want to encourage families to come back," Pridgen said. "I'm pleased to come into this neighborhood. I'm committed."