BOSTON-EDISON HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD COMING BACK

Aggressive public-private effort to save, sell vacant homes underway

DETROIT, MI - A native Detroiter who’d long since shunned suburban living, Erica Hill had already established that when she finally invested in home ownership, it would be in Detroit’s historic Boston-Edison neighborhood.

The 38-year-old grew up admiring the West side community’s architecture, rich history and community pride, and last July, was able to secure her place in that legacy.

Hill, location manager for Detroit 1-8-7/FTP Productions, snagged a 3,100 square foot Colonial home for $10,400. Despite the home being in a state of severe disrepair---much of the site’s fixtures and other necessities had been stolen—Hill saw the site as emblematic of the type of restoration the city needs.

“I know that this area is going to come back and my investment will pay off,” said Hill, who received a $14,000 grant from Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative to supplement the more than $70,000 she’s spent of her own money to restore the home.

Hill’s home purchase is part of an ambitious effort designed to vivify the Boston Edison community. Led by the Central Detroit Christian CDC, Phase I of the effort involves the acquisition, rehabilitation and sale of 10 vacant homes. Approximately 20 percent of the neighborhood’s homes are now vacant.

“We’re very interested in stabilizing what was once an incredibly vibrant community,” said Lisa Johanon, executive director of CDC, which began working to snatch up empty homes in late 2009. “The feeder communities that surround Boston-Edison are dependent upon its success and vitality.”

Besides CDC, the effort is being funded and/or supported by Chase Bank, , LISC, Home Depot, The Development Corporation of Wayne County, City of Detroit, Community Legal Resources and the WARM Training Center. The total cost of the rehabilitation effort is just under $1 million; so far, three of the homes have been sold and two are occupied. Its biggest effort will be restoring 1626 W. Boston, a 2,470 -foot home that was built in 1917.

Hill hopes to move into her home within the next 30 days, after contractors finish unearthing the original woodworking, completing the drywall and overhauling the kitchen.
“Areas like Boston-Edison that were created with a sense of pride and community….that’s where the rebirth is going to be,” said Hill. For more information about the CDC’s effort or to inquire about purchasing a home, please contact Lisa Johanon or go to www.bostonedisonhomes.com.