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New AMHA units readied for Monday opening
By Carl Chancellor
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Sep 13, 2008
Maggie Jones can't wait to use her new dishwasher.
''I never had a dishwasher before. I'm really looking forward to that,'' said Jones, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
On Monday, Jones, 69, will be handed the keys to her brand-new two-bedroom apartment, which will include a glistening new dishwasher among the amenities.
Jones will be presented with her apartment keys by Mayor Don Plusquellic as part of the grand opening celebration at Edgewood Village, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority's newest housing complex.
''This project nearly completes the transformation of an entire neighborhood. It is extraordinary what so many good people have done to make this area come
alive again,'' Plusquellic said.
On Monday, Jones will be the first resident to move into AMHA's Edgewood Village, a $53 million mixed-income housing development built with a combination of federal, state, local and private money. When completed in 2011, Edgewood will boast 225 public housing, nonpublic housing and home-ownership units.
''It is going to be an ideal place for families . . . an ideal place to raise kids,'' Anthony O'Leary, AMHA executive director, said of the development, which is sandwiched by the Akron Zoo and the new Urban League headquarters in the Lane Field neighborhood.
On Thursday, O'Leary stopped by the construction site, which was a beehive of activity. Crews were putting the finishing touches on various projects to get ready for the grand opening.
''All the units have front and back porches and one-car garages,'' O'Leary said as he strolled along a wide boulevard that he said will be lined by trees.
The town homes, which have a cozy feel, have open floor plans, high ceilings, built-in wood cabinetry and even kitchen islands.
The first phase will open with 80, two-, three- and four-bedroom duplex and triplex town houses.
'New beginning'
O'Leary called Edgewood Village, ''a new beginning,'' not just for Edgewood residents but also for the entire near west side neighborhood. He said the development will join the Urban League and the Helen Arnold Learning Center to be a catalyst for the neighborhood's revival.
That new beginning was made possible by a $20 million federal Hope VI revitalization grant awarded to AMHA in 2005. The goal of such grants, also used to replace the housing authority's Elizabeth Park Homes in 2003, is to create a blended community that will intersperse federally subsidized apartments with market rate rental units and owner-occupied houses.
O'Leary said the revitalization of Edgewood is based on a design philosophy termed ''New Urbanism.'' He said the concept is an approach that garners the assets of a community — in this case, the zoo, the library, Akron schools, Lane-Miller South Sports Complex and the new Urban League — to provide an array of services to residents and act as a magnet to attract retail and commercial development.
''All the different partnerships that we have in place, maybe 30 to 40 different agencies, make this a very special effort with all sorts of possibilities,'' O'Leary said.
''It's going to be mixed income, all-working-class community.''
O'Leary said all able-bodied adult residents will have to be employed or in a training or educational program.
Old units demolished
Work on Edgewood Village began in November, when the 116-unit Edgewood Homes public housing project was demolished.
O'Leary said Edgewood Homes, which was a densely packed collection of red brick town homes, was the city's second-oldest public housing project, built in 1941.
''Elizabeth Park, Edgewood and Norton Homes in Barberton were all built within three years of each other,'' O'Leary said.
He said Edgewood Homes began experiencing serious problems in the 1980s, when elderly residents were moved to newly built senior housing.
''The older residents had helped to stabilize Edgewood,'' O'Leary said. With the longtime residents gone, younger families with children moved in and the complex began a steady decline.
Jones was one of the last residents of the old Edgewood Homes, living there for more than 22 years.
''I never had any problems there and I had a lot of good neighbors,'' Jones said. ''But it will be nice moving to a brand-new apartment.''
Jones, who had already packed and pushed several moving boxes behind her recliner, said she had visited the Edgewood construction site ''a couple of times'' to gauge the progress.
''My apartment will be a two-bedroom apartment with central air conditioning. I'm really looking forward to moving in,'' she said.
Jones said she will share the apartment with a niece, who is her caregiver, and, of course, with her new dishwasher.
Carl Chancellor can be reached at 330-996-3725 or cchancellor@thebeaconjournal.com.
Maggie Jones can't wait to use her new dishwasher.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 04:09 AM, 09/13/2008
Thank you.
Posted 07:53 AM, 09/13/2008
Will you define "able-bodied"? Will you define "all-working-class community"?
Posted 08:28 AM, 09/13/2008
O'Leary said Edgewood Homes, which was a densely packed collection of red brick town homes, was the city's second-oldest public housing project, built in 1941. The reason the brick town homes lasted over 60 years is because they were brick! I hope these new "federally subsidized apartments" last more than 20 years, instead of being run down and burnt down like all the other wasted free government handouts. ''I never had any problems there and I had a lot of good neighbors,'' Jones said. ''But it will be nice moving to a brand-new apartment.'' Then why do they need new ones?
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:41 AM, 09/13/2008
The housing will be littered with bottles, broken glass and fast food wrappers within a couple months. Then the graffiti will start. It will look like your typical, run of the mill, trashed projects before long. What a waste!
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:54 AM, 09/13/2008
Well I'm glad the government can transform more welfare neighborhoods while the hard working middle class who's taxes keep going up and can hardly afford to put a new roof on there houses that the OWN bought and paid for with their own hard earned dollars. MY money helps to house people who live generations on welfare and keep popping out the kids to maintain their food stamps. Thanks Akron can't wait to see how long this neighborhood lasts before it is just another eyesore.
Posted 11:13 AM, 09/13/2008
I think I will just let my house go into foreclosure. Why keep struggling to pay my mortgage, utilities, food and upkeep? My dishwasher has been broken for 3 years and we have been in the process of painting the house for 3 years. If we didn't have to work so many hours to keep up with the economy, we may have already finished it. That's it, work a minimum of hours stop paying the loan, move into beautiful 4 bedroom townhome, let city workers fix all repairs and do the upkeep, no lawns to mow, no houses to paint, if the dishwasher breaks call the amha to fix it. Enjoy all of the time on my hands. Shhesssh......
Posted 11:15 AM, 09/13/2008
looks good,but who is going to take care of it?
Akron, oh
Posted 11:25 AM, 09/13/2008
Is Ms. Jones blind and deaf? No problems at Edgewood? That place was a cesspool. Multiple shootings, open air drug sales and vandalism. Sounds like it was a great place to raise a litter of kids.
Akron, oh
Posted 11:29 AM, 09/13/2008
The testa money train is boarding. Everyone get on and please sit behind King Don.
Posted 01:22 PM, 09/13/2008
She has lived in AMHA housing for over 22 years. Cradle to the grave lifestyle. Why work or go to schoolto better yourself , when the goverment will provide everything for you for your entire life.
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 01:35 PM, 09/13/2008
My daughter needs an apartment. But she was placed on a waiting list. The only way she can get in sooner is to become pregnant. Rediculous.
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 01:39 PM, 09/13/2008
Who will take good care of the apartments? There are bad apartment dwellers and good apartment dwellers. I've been in Saxon Village for 5 years. I just got new carpet. I need new kitchen and bathroom cabinets. I was told it will be a while, because when apartments get refurbished, a lot of renters just don't take good care of things.
m, m
Posted 02:27 PM, 09/13/2008
Lived there for 22 years !! so much for 'temporary help' to get someone of their feet.
m, m
Posted 02:28 PM, 09/13/2008
so, my posts are gone.
m, m
Posted 02:29 PM, 09/13/2008
here it is..... 22 years and still living in 'temporary housing'. Look at the Goodyear Heights homes. Many need repair, yet the cost of repair far exceed what you can get out of the home. Why not send this money to HOMEOWNERS who WORK and pay TAXES.
Orrville, Oh
Posted 04:35 PM, 09/13/2008
Scamming taxpayers to fund defiant of realities demands residents living in transformed Edgewood housing. With money derived from wages or independent business profit. Makes taxpayers life and housing UNAFFORDABLE!
m, m
Posted 05:38 PM, 09/13/2008
Kathleen. lots of people need apartments. why depend on getting government housing? subsidized housing artificially inflates the value of private rentals, costs taxpayers, and makes slumlords wealthy.
Posted 10:28 PM, 09/13/2008
why am i paying 1300 a month for a place not as nice as this????????????
Akron, OH
Posted 06:56 PM, 09/14/2008
If you are a hard worker with a decient place, why complain? I went to college and got a career. I don't need ANY government assistance, but I DO NOT knock the people that do, It sounds like a lot of jealousy and racial profiling going on. Who are we to judge anyway? Let's start congradulating, and stop hating!
Posted 07:15 PM, 09/15/2008
WHY ARE YALL HATING AND BEING NEGATIVE.BE HAPPY THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOTHING AND THAT YOU DOIN IT ON YOUR OWN I MEAN IT KINDA ISN'T FAIR THAT WE GOTTA WORK FOR WHAT WE GET BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.AND YALL NEED TO STOP MAKING RACIAL COMMENTS CAUSE IT AINT ONLY BLACK PEOPLE IN THEM PROJECTS,BESIDES IGNORANCE DOESEN'T DISCRIMANATE COLOR.AND SO WHAT SHE HAS BEEN THERE 22 YEARS I BET SHE IS HAPPY AND NOT WORN OUT AND TIRED LIKE MOST OF YALL IS.YOU PROBABLY ANGRY AND UNHAPPY RIGHT NOW IN A NICE BIG HOUSE BY YOURSELF WHILE SHE IS AROUND FRIENDS THAT SHE HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS LIVIN IT UP SO PLEASE DON'T GET ME STARTED!!!!!
