(Portions of this article appeared in Tuesday's edition of Soapbox. After the publication deadline, Tender Mercies CEO added some of his thoughts on how his agency's mission is compatible with the revitalization of Over-the-Rhine.)
Tender Mercies has begun the rehabilitation of the historic Harkavy Hall at 24 W 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine.
Groundbreaking for the project took place in the building's courtyard on April 17, with Ohio Senator Eric Kearney and vice president of development of project partner Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing Brian Langmeyer serving as guest speakers.
The building, which was constructed in the 1870s, contains 30 single-room occupancy units, communal space, and laundry facilities for formerly homeless persons with histories of mental and/or emotional disabilities.
"Providing a secure and attractive home is critical to keeping our population in housing," Tender Mercies CEO Bren Blaine says. "All our residents have lived on the streets, and survived. Sometimes being in housing can be scary if you are not used to it. For new residents, housing also means that they have lost the support systems that they had while living on the streets. They also have to live within our living guidelines – no alcohol, no illegal drugs, no threats of or actual violence, pay the rent if they have income."
When the more than $4 million project concludes in 2009, it will feature:
* An extra 13,000 usable square feet, including a refinished basement that will house offices, storage space, and a barber shop
* A restored façade
* Up-to-date code compliance, including two new sets of fireproof emergency stairs
* A new elevator
* ADA accessibility
* Green features that will save approximately half of their current energy use
* Air conditioning
"Tender Mercies works hard at being a good neighbor," Blaine says. "That includes maintaining our buildings as best we can, as well as providing a safe and dignified home for our residents."
He says that the rehabilitation work will help market-rate developers by keeping Tender Mercies residents off the streets.
"As much as some folks would like to see all homeless people just disappear, they are not going to," he says. "Providing housing is the first step to regaining the ability to live independently in the community."
And he says that Tender Mercies helps keep Over-the-Rhine diverse, which is important to potential buyers.
"People that only want to live or associate with others that look and act the same, will find enclaves outside the city core to stay," Blaine says.
Most importantly, the upgraded housing will significantly reduce costs to the community as a whole.
"One resident we had for 16 years had spent 64 nights in the hospital the year before she joined Tender Mercies, and a total of 2 nights in her 16 years here: a savings to the community of 10s of thousands of dollars a year," Blaine says.
Residents are being moved to one of Tender Mercies' five other buildings during construction.
Partners in the project also include the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and the Manuel D. & Rhoda Mayerson Foundation.
Photo credit: Tender Mercies, Inc.
Previous reading on BC:
Tender Mercies to rehab Harkavy Hall (8/15/07)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tender Mercies CEO touts benefits of Harkavy rehab
Enright Ridge Eco-Village tour this Sunday
Visitors can explore Cincinnati's only eco-village during a self-guided tour from 1 PM to 4 PM on Sunday.
The second annual Enright Ridge Urban Eco-Village Home and Garden Tour will showcase the green community, along Enright Avenue in East Price Hill, to those who are interested in neighborhood and civic revitalization and sustainable living.
On display will be single-family homes both completed and under construction, alternative energy applications, garden designs and walking trails.
Homeowners will be on hand to answer questions on how they used energy efficient and environmentally friendly remodeling products and services.
The event will also feature a show by a local artists and a plant sale, with proceeds will going toward future eco-village projects.
The Enright Ridge Urban Eco-Village, a non-profit corporation founded in 2004, includes 90 properties, nearly 200 acres of woods, the Cincinnati Zen Center, hiking trails, and numerous neighborhood co-ops.
Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at Imago Earth Center, 700 Enright Avenue, or in advance by calling Eileen Schenk at (513) 921-1932.
Truthout: The homeownership idealogues
There is plenty of blame to assign when it comes to the mortgage mess.
In an editorial in Truthout, Dean Baker adds another culprit to the list - the homeownership ideologues.
These are the people who insist that homeownership is the ultimate goal of life itself, continuing to promote homeownership in an artificially inflated market even when it was becoming clear that buying a home would be financially detrimental for some.
After factoring in the mortgage, property taxes, and insurance and maintenance costs, many low- to moderate-income ended up paying 80 to 125 percent more in housing costs than they would have paid as renters.
But they were building equity, right?
Wrong.
House prices could not rise indefinitely, and, when the markets collapsed, any equity gained was lost - and many lost their shelter to boot.
Yet the homeownership ideologues continue to press for more federal help, which will likely do a better job of enriching lenders than helping those who have lost their homes.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Flickr user frumbert