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November 2003
23
New Homes Offer New Beginnings
BY SCOTT JENKINS
SALISBURY POST
November 23, 2002
Ben Neal plans to move in his new house in the Jersey City neighborhood
Nov. 30 -- two days after the holiday -- but he and his family went ahead
and celebrated Friday.
"This is Thanksgiving today," Neal said, standing outside the family's
brand new home at 712 W. Cemetery St. "Happy thanks-living and Thanksgiving
to everyone."
(click for larger image)
Neal, his wife, Jackie, and 13-year-old son Ben II, were among hundreds
who attended a block party Friday to celebrate the completion of four new
houses on West Cemetery Street. The Salisbury Community Development Corp.
partnered with the city, F&M Bank and Citizens South Bank and architect
Karen Alexander to build the houses on four lots where dilapidated
structures once stood.
A doctor had bought three of the houses with plans to build medical
offices along West Cemetery Street. But neighbors asked the City Council to
keep the neighborhood residential.
The city bought and donated the lots to the Community Development Corp.,
which then had the houses demolished and began constructing the new houses
while searching for buyers, said Chanaka Yatawara, the organization's
executive director.
To buy a house through the program, potential homeowners' income must be
at or below 80 percent of the median income for Salisbury; they must settle
all delinquent debts; save $750; and attend classes for six months to a year
including homeownership, maintenance, landscaping and money management.
(click for larger image)
In addition to financing construction and three of the mortgages, F&M
Bank donated computers to be placed in each house, said Lou Adkins,
community development coordinator with the Community Development Corp. "We
want them to meet their full potential," Adkins said.
The organization and its partners also want the neighborhood to realize
its potential. They plan to build as many as eight more new houses and
renovate six existing ones in Jersey City during the next 12 months.
Nora Faucette, a 69-year-old resident who has lived in Jersey City since
she was 10, is glad to hear that. She is one of the neighbors who approached
the City Council and says she hopes the new houses are the start of
something good.
Faucette remembers a neighborhood where children played freely, families
were friendly and crimes were few. She said as homeowners aged and their
children moved away, the community declined and homes were "just left
standing."
"I think it's a great addition and it will help stabilize the
neighborhood," she said of the new houses. "The neighbors are looking
forward to a return of families."
(click for larger image)
Many of the residents came out to greet their new neighbors. Adkins said
at least 200 people attended the block party and ate up 200 hot dogs, lots
of coffee and -- as cold as it was -- snow cones.
And Neal stood outside his family's new home at 712 W. Cemetery St.,
proud as a peacock, and greeted well-wishers.
He said he and his wife are happy as can be to finally be homeowners and
his son is already decorating his bedroom in his mind.
In addition to the city, the Community Development Corp.
and their partners, he expressed thanks to God, and he clutched a written
prayer he had wanted to share with others, but it was just too cold to get
them to stand in one place long enough.
"God is already here, but I welcome God to stay as our holy guest," it
read in part, "make our new home a place of kindness and love."
Contact Scott Jenkins at 704-797-4248 or
sjenkins@salisburypost.com.
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