Breaking Ground in North Park
This morning marked the beginning of construction on new development.
Here's the story on the North Park Development Project, as told today by CCC executive director Brad Carter at the groundbreaking.
It’s been only seven years since Connecting Caring Communities became actively bringing community renewal to Abilene. To say “only seven” seems silly—especially to Linda because it already seems like such a long time. CCC has come a long way since that time when we were simply part of a new little office at Hardin-Simmons University called the Neighborhood Enhancement Center. Since launching from HSU as an independent organization in 2005, CCC has grown and touched neighborhoods all over our city with our message of community, caring and relationships. We’ve especially touched College Heights just to the south of here with our Friendship House in partnership with Hendrick Medical Center and here in North Park where we stand today and largely through our Friendship House in partnership with Hardin-Simmons.
Naturally, a project this size did not happen overnight—but has been in progress for several years. With the great vision and support of Dr. Craig Turner and HSU—and we’re so glad to have you with us, Dr. Jesse Fletcher on behalf of HSU now that Dr. Turner is gone—and the generosity of the Dodge Jones Foundation—thank you for your help and encouragement Larry Gill—CCC was able to receive this block for a new development.
Once upon this dirt stood North Park Elementary School, later Ben Milam Elementary—a centerpiece of the neighborhood left vacant for the past 25 years when it was condemned and demolished. Today, we’re turning this dirt not only for a new North Park Friendship House that will stand right here, but a development to help re-build this community and continue bringing renewal to our city.
Many ideas and plans have been explored for what to do here—as David Todd and his staff at Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd can attest. Thank you, David. And we’re proud of our final site plan which was developed through neighbor brainstorming and idea processes. Patri Bailey, current President of the Abilene North Park Neighborhood Association is here, thanks Patri, as well as other officers and neighbors from the neighborhood. We’re so glad you are here today and for your work, encouragement and help along the way with this project. Oh, and Nathan Varble, an architectural intern at Tittle-Luther Partnership is also here. Nathan helped lead this charrette process with the neighbors in developing our site plan. And Brandon Young’s pre-architecture class at ACU also had a deep impact on our final plans thanks to their work and exploration of “community” together with us.
This plan includes a new North Park Friendship House provided through the extremely generous support of the Shelton Family Foundation. David Copeland and Mittie Blackburn are here from Shelton. Thank you so much. Shelton was a very early supporter and remains so for CCC. Without their generous support we truly would not be here today.
It also includes a neighborhood park – a major request from the neighbors in the designing process. Everyone, I think, is excited about the park and the enjoyment that will come from a green place to play together, sit together and garden together.
It also includes ten lots for new single-family homes. Six of which are for sale if you or someone you know is interested. And at least four homes for low-to-moderate income families. To give you a taste of what that means—this is a new, energy-efficient home for a family made affordable through subsidies for a family of four making a household income of $30-40,000 a year. We are still looking for a few more future homeowners here and would love your help in passing on the word. Jean-Marie Kagabo and his wife Angel-Marie are here today and are our first family of homeowners. They, too, are very excited and ready-to-move in to their home.
The cost of construction for these homes are subsidized through the generous support of HOME funds from the City of Abilene. Larry Gilley and his staff—Jon James, Sandy Bowen and ONS staff are here today—have been extraordinarily helpful and supportive of this project—thank you. The City is also providing some funds for the neighborhood park through a Community Development Block Grant. Both of these programs utilize funding from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development.
And, through the support and generosity of the Abilene City Council, the infrastructure costs—the new curbs you already see, sidewalks you will see, and many things we’ll never be able to see—is being funded by infill development funds. Several of our Councilmembers are here today. Anthony Williams, Laura Moore, Sam Chase. Thank you. Mayor Archibald sent his regrets as he’s out of town today.
We’re excited about what will occur here over the next few months after we turn this dirt to begin construction. We’re thankful to many generous partners who are here today. Like Breece Higgins of Chanley Homes who is our contractor and is generously donating his time and expertise to oversee this project as a gift back to Abilene and Hardin-Simmons. To Casey Curnutt of Batjer & Associates, Matt Robinson of Lone Star Electric, Mike Cagle of Sherwin-Williams Paint, and Russell Weathersby of Weathersby Roofing who have all committed to help with generous donations of time and equipment to this development. To Marsha Jeffries and Christy Robertson of Creative ReDesigns who are leading our interior decorating in the Friendship House. To an exciting new partnership with the Big Country Home Educators – their president, Kay Orr is here today—who have many young men and women who will work with us and the neighbors on the park as part of our Families in Action effort.
We’re also excited to launch today ManPower alongside our Women of CCC as connected groups of volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering your skills here—or in the many other ways you can “do what you do” – talk to Brandon Rogers who, as a volunteer, is heading up this new male volunteer group. Brandon and his daughter, Mya, and wife Danyel, who is on our staff as the Community Coordinator in North Park will be living in the new Friendship House. They have been a part of this neighborhood in our current Friendship House just a block south of here for five years now. They have done an excellent job and lives have been changed—including their own—over the course of having children, families, seniors and college students in their house and being in the homes of other neighbors. I also want to make sure you know Dusty Garison, our College Heights Friendship House Community Coordinator; Lori Thornton, CCC assistant director; Christine Brockman, our Haven House Director; Sarah Mulkey, Volunteer Impact Director; and Jeremy Tatum, an office assistant; Brooke Nichols our Abilene CART 2009 Coordinator, and Sherry Moore, Kids Club Coordinator for College Heights. And also our board members who are here: Odis Dolton, past president; Nancy Coburn, vice president. Terry Davis is also here.
I’m thankful again for each of you being here and sharing your wonderful support for CCC and this project. Many exciting days are ahead as we continue bringing loving people together to work together to bring community renewal throughout our city toward a safe, caring, whole community.
And, with that, let’s break some ground!
It was a great event. I wanted to add the link to Reporter News. http://www.reporternews.com/videos/detail/north-park-friendship-house/