Albany Community Land Trust Rehabs Houses to Fix Blight
A Local Non-Profit’s Efforts to Revitalize the City
If you live in Albany, chances are you have seen red x’s signifying that a building is unsafe for anyone, especially first responders, to enter. A vacant home burned down in Albany on Tuesday with flames spreading to nearby occupied properties, raising the issue of blight in the city once again. A local non-profit is working to rehab entire blocks filled with those vacant homes.
The Albany Community Land Trust’s Mission
Valerie Alexander-Moseley, Assistant Project Manager at the Albany Community Land Trust, is dedicated to flipping vacant homes, many of which are on the same block, and then renting or selling them to first-time home buyers. She gave NEWS10’s Zion Decoteau a tour of one of their gut-rehabbed homes on Albany’s Third Street.
“It’s to make our community look good. It’s to bring homes to people that may not never have the opportunity…based…to buy a home based on their credit,” said Alexander-Moseley.
A Success Story
Pastor Michael Williams from the Empire Christian Center was one of those first-time home buyers in December 1999. He now works with the trust to prevent gun violence.
“They were the only ones to make affordable living affordable for me,” said Williams. “1999 I remember it well. It was in December because we closed. It was the best day of my and my wife’s life,” the Pastor continued.
Affordability and Community Engagement
Just how affordable are the land trust’s properties? Well, this house should sell for about $135,000. “We have people living in some of our apartments for $675” Alexander-Moseley explained. The trust assess clients’ incomes and puts them in touch with grants so clients are able to afford their properties. For renters, the trust conducts inspections to ensure tenant’s property upkeep.
The Challenges of Urban Blight
The project manager attributes these blemishes of urban blight to several factors. “The older generation that owned the house died off and moved to a warmer climate and left the house to some younger people and they don’t care for it so people walk away from houses,” said Alexander-Moseley.
New Construction Homes
The Land Trust currently has six new construction homes that they’re looking to sell to first-time home buyers.
Conclusion
The Albany Community Land Trust’s efforts to rehab houses and revitalize the city are a testament to the power of community engagement and affordable housing. By providing a safe and affordable place to live, the trust is helping to build stronger, more resilient communities.
FAQs
* What is the Albany Community Land Trust?
+ The Albany Community Land Trust is a local non-profit organization that works to rehab vacant homes and provide affordable housing to first-time home buyers.
* What is the goal of the Albany Community Land Trust?
+ The goal of the Albany Community Land Trust is to revitalize the city by rehabbing entire blocks of vacant homes and providing affordable housing to first-time home buyers.
* How does the Albany Community Land Trust assess clients’ incomes and put them in touch with grants?
+ The trust assess clients’ incomes and puts them in touch with grants so clients are able to afford their properties.
