Post by Randall Lord on Jan 1, 2007 13:33:44 GMT -5
www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070101/NEWS01/701010315
January 1, 2007
By Melody Brumble
mbrumble@gannett.com
A nondenominational religious group that sought six blocks in Shreveport's Allendale neighborhood will have to settle for much less property.
City officials are moving forward with expropriation lawsuits so the group, People of Praise, can buy 14 lots. The organization started acquiring property in Allendale in 2002.
The lawsuits are among several filed this year to free adjudicated property for redevelopment. Also on the table are requests by nonprofit agencies interested in housing construction in Allendale and Mooretown.
In 2005, People of Praise asked city officials to expropriate 46 pieces of property in an area bounded by Murphy, Laurel, Yale and Norma streets. Expropriation means a public body sues a property owner and takes over property.
The organization planned to build 40 houses in a 10- to 20-year period and renovate existing ones, according to the application.
It calls the plan a "family skills/home management project."
People of Praise plans to fund construction with money generated by previously built homes, money generated by a for-profit textbook business and contributions from members.
The organization pared down its request when research showed 19 of the 46 properties weren't considered abandoned. City Council members, who approve expropriation lawsuits, have hesitated to take over property when owners don't owe taxes or fees to the city. The organization also agreed to not ask for land on Laurel Street because Galilee Baptist Church is seeking property there for a housing project.
Cyril "Bud" Rose, People of Praise's contact person for the Allendale project, said the organization still plans to build on the 14 lots. He estimated it will take up to seven years to complete all the houses. He said People of Praise will try to buy other property in the targeted area.
"It's kind of salt and pepper. They're kind of scattered around," Rose said of the lots. "We had hoped for the larger area where we could do a master plan. With a development, you can do more in terms of landscaping."
The organization plans to sell the houses but will rent them if it can't find buyers, Rose said.
People of Praise, based in South Bend., Ind., has had a presence in Shreveport since 1989. The organization has 21 branches and operates three high schools. In 2002, three staff members from Indiana came to Shreveport and started the Allendale house construction program.
Since then, volunteers -- primarily high school students affiliated with the organization -- have built six houses on Yale Street in Allendale with the help of skilled laborers, said Rose.
Volunteers also made minor repairs and improvements to 23 houses in the Yale Street area over the past two summers.
People of Praise encourages members to share housing, although people can belong without living in a community home. Single members live in two of the Shreveport houses. A retired couple considered staff lives in a third house they bought from People of Praise.
The organization sold a fourth house to a low-income buyer in 2004, but in 2005 the woman defaulted and the house was repossessed by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department. On Dec. 22, Rose bought the house from HUD.
When asked about the purchase, Rose said he plans to turn the house back over to People of Praise.
"That's under way now," Rose said. "It was faster for me to buy it."
January 1, 2007
By Melody Brumble
mbrumble@gannett.com
A nondenominational religious group that sought six blocks in Shreveport's Allendale neighborhood will have to settle for much less property.
City officials are moving forward with expropriation lawsuits so the group, People of Praise, can buy 14 lots. The organization started acquiring property in Allendale in 2002.
The lawsuits are among several filed this year to free adjudicated property for redevelopment. Also on the table are requests by nonprofit agencies interested in housing construction in Allendale and Mooretown.
In 2005, People of Praise asked city officials to expropriate 46 pieces of property in an area bounded by Murphy, Laurel, Yale and Norma streets. Expropriation means a public body sues a property owner and takes over property.
The organization planned to build 40 houses in a 10- to 20-year period and renovate existing ones, according to the application.
It calls the plan a "family skills/home management project."
People of Praise plans to fund construction with money generated by previously built homes, money generated by a for-profit textbook business and contributions from members.
The organization pared down its request when research showed 19 of the 46 properties weren't considered abandoned. City Council members, who approve expropriation lawsuits, have hesitated to take over property when owners don't owe taxes or fees to the city. The organization also agreed to not ask for land on Laurel Street because Galilee Baptist Church is seeking property there for a housing project.
Cyril "Bud" Rose, People of Praise's contact person for the Allendale project, said the organization still plans to build on the 14 lots. He estimated it will take up to seven years to complete all the houses. He said People of Praise will try to buy other property in the targeted area.
"It's kind of salt and pepper. They're kind of scattered around," Rose said of the lots. "We had hoped for the larger area where we could do a master plan. With a development, you can do more in terms of landscaping."
The organization plans to sell the houses but will rent them if it can't find buyers, Rose said.
People of Praise, based in South Bend., Ind., has had a presence in Shreveport since 1989. The organization has 21 branches and operates three high schools. In 2002, three staff members from Indiana came to Shreveport and started the Allendale house construction program.
Since then, volunteers -- primarily high school students affiliated with the organization -- have built six houses on Yale Street in Allendale with the help of skilled laborers, said Rose.
Volunteers also made minor repairs and improvements to 23 houses in the Yale Street area over the past two summers.
People of Praise encourages members to share housing, although people can belong without living in a community home. Single members live in two of the Shreveport houses. A retired couple considered staff lives in a third house they bought from People of Praise.
The organization sold a fourth house to a low-income buyer in 2004, but in 2005 the woman defaulted and the house was repossessed by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department. On Dec. 22, Rose bought the house from HUD.
When asked about the purchase, Rose said he plans to turn the house back over to People of Praise.
"That's under way now," Rose said. "It was faster for me to buy it."