Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association

Garden of Eden NA Press Release

Garden of Eden NA Announces First Renovation Project

Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association Press Release



"Good Samaritan Comes to Aid of 93-Year-Old Widow Who Abandoned Home After Son's Murder"


Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association Announces First Renovation Project

03/31/2006 4:00 PM CST


PR Newswire


Fort Worth, TX., March 31, 2006 - - The Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association (2004 Neighborhood of
the Year) today announced the launch of its long awaited neighborhood renovation project, starting with the
home of a 93 year old widow. Mrs. Johnson has not lived in her home since her son was murdered in their
front yard ten years ago.

What better way to initiate the restoration and continued revitalization of a neighborhood, than with the home of our oldest living neighbor who has been residing with her daughter since that dreadful day in August 1996.

When completed, Mrs. Johnson will be able to live in her old neighborhood where she and her husband started a family in the early 1940’s.

Since the formation of the Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association in May 2004, the renovation of homes has been one of the primary projects for the organization to complete. Although several attempts have been made to achieve this goal through grants and the City of Fort Worth’s Model Blocks Program, the outcome was always negative. Persistence, tenacity, passion and the desire to move forward resulted in a chance meeting with a developer and contractor to discuss the needs of the community. After a tour of the Carson Street Garden of Eden Historic and Cultural Landmark District, they understood the need and passion behind this project. To provide housing for this 93 year old widow will be a dream come true, not only for Mrs. Johnson, but for the past and present citizens of this neighborhood.

Thanks to the undying efforts of Brenda Sanders-Wise, (President of the Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association) to find someone or some way to help Mrs. Johnson, this home will be habitable within a few weeks, thanks to a kind benefactor, Bruce Carter and contractor Don Burse, owner of D&D Renovations. Mr. Burse is giving back to the community since his endurance of Hurricane Katrina.

A prayer service will kick off the project Sunday, April 2, 2006 at 3:30pm in Mrs. Johnson's front yard surrounded by local residents and members of the local Historic Valley Baptist Church, Rev. James Redd Jr., officiating.

The Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association would like to acknowledge the support of all the members of
the organization.

The Garden of Eden Neighborhood was designated by the City of Fort Worth as the first African American Historic and Cultural Landmark District in Tarrant County, January 2005.

Contact: Brenda Sanders-Wise, President, Garden of Eden Neighborhood Association and the Carson Street
Historic Preservation Group, Inc.

817-759-1874

Copyright 2006 PR Newswire