A national non-profit announced plans today to repair and spruce up 20 homes on one street in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is the third year of a 10-year plan designed to revive the housing stock in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the United States.
The two story house at 124 King Street that was purchased by Curtis Vaughn’s grandparents in the 1920s needs a lot of work. But Vaughn, who lives in the house with a son and a daughter, said at age 82 he is unable to do the repairs himself and can’t afford to hire contractors.
" I spent a terrible winter here. My boiler blew up on me, then my water went out, then my electricity went out, so I had quite a hard time," Vaughn explained.
Vaughn’s house will get a new heating system, new windows, insulation, and fresh paint. The front porch will be rebuilt. All at no cost to him.
Vaughn said when he heard about the program offered by Revitalize Community Development Corporation he thought it was too good to be true.
" First I was skeptical of it , but then when I got in touch with the people I found out how great it is. It is a wonderful thing," he said.
Revitalize CDC staff and volunteers were joined by sponsors, city and state officials Wednesday to announce the start of the month-long Green-N-Fit Neighborhood Rebuild project. Vaughn’s house and 19 others on King Street will be fixed up.
Last year, the organization announced a 10-year strategic plan to repair 20-25 houses a year on 10 contiguous blocks in the Old Hill Neighborhood. 70 percent of neighborhood families live below the poverty level.
Revitalize CDC President and CEO Colleen Loveless said 57 houses were repaired in the first two years of the cluster rebuild.
" We incorporate everything from playgrounds and community gardens. To truly revitalize a neighborhood you have to take it block by block and not just house by house." she said.
The scope of the work includes converting home heating from oil to natural gas, replacing roofs, windows, and doors, weatherization, siding and painting, fencing and planting shrubs and flowers.
Contractors will do the bulk of the work on the houses during the next three weeks and the project will culminate with an event on April 25th when volunteers descend on the neighborhood to haul away debris, paint, and do plantings.
" I really anticipate about 1,500 volunteers this year, " said Loveless. " We get volunteers from Maine to New Jersey who come back every year. It is really great."
Ethel Griffin of the Old Hill Neighborhood Council said the home rebuilding project now entering its third year is already paying dividends.
" It has made a great difference. The neighbors get to know each other. They are reporting on drug dealing in the neighborhood now. They found out there is help and somebody who really cares about this neighborhood," Griffin said.
Revitalize CDC recently changed its name from Rebuilding Together. The organization said it has invested $28.8 million into Springfield’s housing stock since 1992 and helped more than 500 families.
