by Deborah Johnson Wood
Since 2002, Lighthouse Communities, Inc. has invested over $20 million residential and commercial development dollars in Grand Rapids' south side, and renovated 400 housing units in low-income neighborhoods to stimulate community revitalization. At 6:30 tonight they celebrate that achievement and their first five years in business at a gala fundraising event at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts.
"Turning a community around is a complex task and cannot be achieved in isolation," said David Allen, Executive Director. "Throughout these years, we have learned to share resources and efforts with partners, and, when it makes sense, to build on current efforts."
Lighthouse has focused their development expertise on the Madison Square and Baxter neighborhoods: renovating vacant houses and renting or reselling them, building new townhouses and retail spaces and leasing them, constructing The Avenue Apartments Senior Housing, administrating Cool Cities grants, creating Uptown Village, and more.
In 2002, its first year in business, Lighthouse completed the renovation of fewer than 20 housing units at an administrative cost of over $20,000 per unit. By creating strategic partnerships and leveraging funds, they have been able to renovate more houses (150 in 2006) for fewer administrative dollars per unit (about $7,000).
They are also an active partner in the Get the Lead Out! initiative to eliminate childhood lead poisoning by making children's homes lead safe.
Looking back over Lighthouse Communities' accomplishments and partnerships, David Allen said "We could never have achieved this level of growth and impact if we were an insular 'we will do it all on our own' agency. We are happy to have come this far with a shared vision in mind."
Source: Lighthouse Communities
www.lighthousecommunities.org
Photograph of David Allen by Brian Kelly
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