CEDAM blog

[This post is part of the monthly CEDAM Member News Roundup series.  If you have news to share, send it our way or leave a message in the comments section at the bottom of this post.]

Deluxe Inn after the art show.

Goodbye, Deluxe Inn! The Ingham County Land Bank bought this rundown property in Lansing’s Reo Town with plans to demolish it at the end of August – but not before turning the building into an art hot spot. The REO Town Commercial Association invited almost 50 artists to paint the building with graffiti art, drawing 1,500 or so spectators. After the Lansing Fire Department uses the building to practice breaking down doors and walls, the land bank will oversee demolition of the site.

Over in Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living hosted the 2010 Great Lakes Independence Ride, or “IRide.” Over 30 cyclists participated in the 4 day, 240 mile bike ride from Three Rivers to Ann Arbor. Video of the cyclists.

Circle of Love information drop for community awareness month.

Throughout August, Circle of Love CDC in Saginaw organized information drops to the local communities for Community Awareness Month. Executive Director Pamela Brazil said the drops have been very successful, with increased numbers of people coming to the nonprofit for affordable housing counseling. Circle of Love is also coordinating Operation Gateway, or “Take the Hill,” where volunteers come together to clean up Hill Street by cutting overgrown trees, trimming weeds, and mowing on properties where vegetation is out of control. News article.

Coming up on September 9th, the Old Town Commercial Association will officially welcome seven new businesses to Old Town. The ribbon cutting ceremony will celebrate Epicenter Church, Gravity Works, Lambs Gate Antiques, Michigan League for Human Services, Northside Barbershop, Lighthouse Massage Center and Tallulah’s Folly.

[This post is part of the monthly CEDAM Member News Roundup series.  If you have news to share, send it our way or leave a message in the comments section at the bottom of this post.]

The Michigan Individual Development Account Partnership has been awarded $514,822 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. MIDAP is a collaborative managed by CEDAM member, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA), with funding support from MSHDA.  The funds will be used to create Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), which help low-income households build up savings for a home, small business, or education purchase. Read more.

During July, the Community Housing Network needs your votes to win $50,000 in the Pepsi Refresh Project (please vote every day). This grant will fill operational gaps and enable them to provide beds and basic household furnishings for the houses they build.  Vote Here. See photos here from CHN’s recent groundbreaking for a new supportive housing property.

Creekside Community Development Corporation was recently featured in Model D highlighting their work in Northeast Detroit.   In May and June, Creekside worked with the Greening of Detroit to beautify A.B. Ford Park in preparation for Pizazz in the Park on Saturday, August 23.  They also closed on 10 affordable, green homes.  Creekside is also hosting a kayaking demonstration on July 24^th and a kayak tour of the East Riverfront on August 12^th.

Detroit’s Community Legal Resources, through the Detroit Vacant Property Campaign, awarded $60,000 to 16 local community-based groups.  The funds will be used to reduce vacant properties in Detroit and turn these areas into neighborhood assets.  CEDAM members Creekside Community Development Corporation, St. Ignatius Nonprofit Housing Corporation, Prevailing Community Development Corporation, Nortown Community Development Corporation and Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation are among the organizations to receive the funds. Read more.

Recently, Witherbee’s Market & Deli opened in Downtown Flint.  The 8,000-square-foot full-service grocery story and deli is stocked with packaged sandwiches and salads for pickup and outside seating for downtown workers and college students.  The Neighborhood Improvement and Preservation Project secured the financing and rehabilitated the old tire shop.  The store provides new options and a closer facility for the downtown area residents. Read more.

Habitat for Humanity started their first family build in Detroit.  This is an initiative by Gov. Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern to rebuild and revitalize Michigan.  Members of Granholm family joined volunteers from Henry Ford Health System and Habitat for Humanity Detroit in the building. Read more or watch a video.

[This post is part of the monthly CEDAM Member News Roundup series.  If you have news to share, send it our way or leave a message in the comments section at the bottom of this post.]

WARM Training Center was announced as one of Michigan’s top ten green leaders for the work it does around energy efficiency, weatherization, and other greening efforts.

Livonia Housing Commission is preparing to sell foreclosed properties bought with neighborhood stabilization funds and then rehabbed or demolished. Selling the properties will get them back on tax rolls and improve the look of the neighborhood.

Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County hosted a homeownership fair on April 17, with fair guests including Community Housing Network, Lighthouse, and Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency. Attendees got to learn about Habitat homeownership, tour a Habitat home, and learn about other organizations that aid families in the pursuit of homeownership.

Photo from last year's Neighborhood Beautification Day.

Upcoming: Southwest Solutions’ 4th annual Neighborhood Beautification Day will take place on June 5th from 8am to 1pm. Southwest Solutions recruits volunteers for this day to landscape, paint, remove graffiti, plant flowers, and other beautification projects around southwest Detroit.  See the event flyer here and RSVP here.