Vanguard CDC completes 24 units of housing, 57 more in the works

Detroit's North End is getting a boost from three citywide initiatives that target specific geographic areas. Bounded roughly by E. Grand Boulevard, Woodward Avenue, Clay and I-75, the North End is a NEXT Detroit Neighborhood, a LISC Neighborhoods Now area and a Skillman Foundation Good Neighborhood.

In December of 2006, Vanguard Community Development Corporation completed Melrose Square Homes, 24 single-family rental homes that are tax-credit subsidized. Next up are a 48-unit senior apartment complex and 27 market-rate townhouse condominiums. Plans call for a groundbreaking in spring of 2008.

In the meantime, Vanguard is conducting a series of free classes intended to boost home ownership and entrepreneurship. Beginning on September 8, a "do-it-yourself" class, conducted in partnership with WARM Training, will cover topics such as basic electrical and plumbing, wall repair, painting and carpentry in once-a-week sessions through October 20.

Also on September 8, a real estate investors class will be offered. "We want people interested in getting into development to learn how to do it by working in tandem with the community," says Vanguard's housing development director Scott Alan Davis. The course will run one Saturday a month through December.

A home-buyers class will start on September 22, scheduled once a month for three months.

The organization is also working with area small businesses and potential entrepreneurs via its Milwaukee-Junction small business center.

Of the three city-wide initiatives with which Vanguard is involved, Davis has been working with the Neighborhoods Now program for the longest period of time. "Working with LISC has brought us great exposure and the ability to leverage more funding," he says. "Now, all three are potentially going to do that."

To learn more about any of these initiatives, contact Vanguard at 313-872-7831.

Source: Scott Alan Davis, Vanguard CDC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Photo courtesy of Vanguard