The Greensboro Housing and Neighborhood Development Department has officially acquired its new home, far from the confines of city hall.
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Greensboro City Council unanimously approved the purchase of the former Glenwood United Methodist Church property at 1417 Glenwood Ave.
The old Glenwood Methodist Church was purchased from Christ United Methodist Church, which had merged with Glenwood. The price the city paid for the old church, which was valued at $1.4 million, was $30,000, with the condition that the city donate four lots to Habitat for Humanity to build homes for people earning less than 80 percent of the area median income.
The city also plans to develop three lots that are part of the Glenwood property for housing.
Now that the city owns the property, the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development plans to renovate the old church building for office and public use space.
Renovation design services will be provided by STITCH Design Shop, with an emphasis on incorporating neighborhood input into the design process.
Along with being the new headquarters for the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, the site will serve as a pilot project for the development of other “neighborhood hubs” designed to provide programs and services directly to the public.
Moving the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department out of the confusing warren of offices at city hall and into a separate office with its own parking lot will certainly make the department more accessible to the people it serves.
In the press release, Christ United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Morris Brown said, “Christ United Methodist has a long history with Glenwood and surrounding communities and is thankful they can continue that service through the production of affordable homes as part of this transaction.”
Housing and Neighborhood Development Department Director Michelle Kennedy said, “This plan has been a long time in the making and the HND staff are excited to make the move. This first neighborhood hub will show what happens when City government works hand-in-hand on a daily basis with communities.”
Lol…
Kennedy getting your tax dollars. What’s next?
Maybe some homeless beds for the winter? Oh wait, better ask Skippy first.
That’s what I said. It’s sad
Lol. The entire Glenwood neighborhood isn’t worth 1.4 million.
They have sold 10 homes this month worth 100,000 a piece you do the math the neighborhood sits across the street from one of the fastest growing colleges in the state. Tell me you don’t know how to assess real estate with out telling me!
59 and counting as of today “city” Durham will never catch Greensboro. You don’t seem to have a lot to say about this lately. What’s up
60 today big city. Speak now
$30,000 to purchase….and $2 million more to renovate
So I guess they are going to ignore the fact the our cities homelessness is on the rise every day? Turn this building into a homeless shelter to get our people off the streets. This city continues to waiste money on things that do not matter when the people of this city should.
Build it and they will come.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro, current CEO, COO and Development Director have an apparent disregard for people of color, Habitat built neighborhood integrity, and the construction of safe, reliable housing. In existing Habitat neighborhoods, such as the Poplar Ridge community, substandard housing was constructed. The CEO and COO are fully aware and are attempting to conceal these issues. Homeowners were promised by the CEO and COO admitted to homeowners that these problems where due to poor grading when they built these homes. Additionally the CEO and COO took accountability, apologized, and pledged to many of the residents just in a meeting last month, they would be rectified the issues, but it seems they are speaking insincerely, hoping that homeowners will not notice their lack of intent to address issues such as floor holes, compromised foundations, moisture, mold, and mildew. This is not normally wear and tear, it is negligence on Habitat’s part, they admitted it to many of the residents and made promises that now they are giving crickets, insulting their intelligence and trying to back paddle. It is disheartening that their leadership team prioritizes new construction over fulfilling their commitment to rectify these structural deficiencies. One may wonder whether they would take similar actions in a different zip code, such as 27408, 27409, 27410, AND 27455 vs. East Greensboro (27401, 27406, and 27405). They are more concerned about their media presence, than keeping their promise. Its simple this community deserves your promises to be executed!
All the more reason to practice due diligence.
Trust is neither given nor taken, it is earned. If anyone says “trust me”, or something like ‘don’t worry about it’, start worrying.
Sour grapes here.
Oh this is going to be a disaster!
John why won’t anyone talk about why Smith Homes was torn down