Photo: Avenue CDC

Avenue Community Development Corporation

(left,below) Homes rescued and restored by Avenue CDC can cost as little as $1800 down and $500 per month for income eligable buyers.

Turning neighborhood blight into benefit

Nothing detracts from a neighborhood’s self-image like weed lots and empty, dilapidated homes. Avenue CDC turns blight into a community resource by recycling abandoned homes, renovating them, and selling them at affordable rates to low and moderate-income buyers. This is done through two programs: Move Home and House Save. Move Home relocates donated houses to vacant lots within the Washington Avenue District Area, while House Save purchases and renovates abandoned homes. All homes are restored to preserve their historic character, enabling neighborhoods to retain their cultural heritage while offering residents a beautiful living environment they can afford.

Photo: Avenue CDC

Photo: Alina Simone

Lucia Perez, single mom and full time mechanic, had been sharing a room with her son, living in a garage apartment with a roomate, when she found out about the Move Home program . “Avenue CDC’s program made buying a home possible. Without it, I don’t think I would be able to own property. Avenue CDC has helped me accomplish something that benefits my son; it makes me feel like I can tackle anything.” With help from Avenue CDC, Lucia Perez was able to purchase a newly restored, turn of the century two-bedroom home in the First Ward.