From Rags to Riches or Should we say Community Eyesore to Community Bright spot…?

Lincoln Garden Apartments, as quoted by WLBT News, “was once one of Jackson’s worst apartment complexes for crime and drugs”. In an interview with The Clarion Ledger, Ms. Verna Lee, a tenant at Lincoln Gardens, remembers telling a maintenance man, “I’ll be glad when I get out of here.” Only a couple of years ago, the apartment complex was in bad shape with several units condemned, Now, Ms. Lee would like to “stay here as long as I live.”

Representatives from the Rocky Mountain Development Group and the Wishcamper Companies of Maine saw the potential in Lincoln Garden, and acquired the property from its then owners. The companies had a goal of revitalizing the neglected property in hopes that it would give the entire community a facelift, encouraging other owners to take pride in their properties as well. Renovation of the property began immediately after the acquisition and took nine months to complete.

Since the $10 million dollar renovation project was completed, the apartment complex has become one of the most attractive properties in the area. Occupancy has increased from less than 50% to 100%. According the Lincoln Garden’s manager Taj Cole, “because the conditions were bad they [the residents] didn’t feel the need to keep them up before.” Many of the residents now take pride in their community and expressed their appreciation during the June celebration held for the completion of the 100-unit complex.

The development plan for Lincoln Garden was created in collaboration with local government agencies such as the Mississippi Home Corporation and political leaders. The result of this partnership led to the complete transformation of an aging and neglected property with high criminal activity into a stable community asset. According to Brian Shumway of the Wishcamper

Companies, “Our nation has a dwindling stock of affordable housing… We are able to use new tools that are available from the federal government and mix them with some of the old subsidies and really help empower people. And help them build a more productive life within the communities that they already live in,” Senator Hillman Fraizer of Mississippi concurs with Lincoln’s renovation by expressing, “…this investment is going to pay dividends in the long run, in terms of producing quality residents who will become taxpaying citizens and contribute to society.”

Thus far, Lincoln’s rehabilitation is having a great impact on the attitudes of the community members and leaders. Hopefully in the near future, other property owners will continue the revitalization project that Wishcamper has started. Besides, change starts with one!

NAHMA 2011 Communities of Quality Awards Competition

Communities of Quality Awards honor the achievements of affordable housing providers who have made an unprecedented contribution to the affordable housing industry by developing and maintaining outstanding properties that are safe and vibrant places to live.

The awards competition includes five categories:

■ Exemplary Family Development

■ Exemplary Development for the Elderly

■ Exemplary Development for Residents with Special Needs

■ Exemplary Development for Single Room Occupancy Housing

■ Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property

In conjunction with the noted award and as an expression of gratitude, MHC will provide to an owner/manager of a HTC property selected as winner:

■ Certificate/plaque

■ Free attendance at one MHC hosted compliance training event

■ Special recognition in the “Spotlight” in the Compliance Connection newsletter

■ Three Noncompliance Fee Waivers

Application deadline to NAHMA is November 11, 2011