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?Ÿ‘‘ The Crownicle: Your Monthly Housing & Neighborhood Services Digest
A clarification from our previous newsletter: We previously stated that yard waste must be bagged in clear bags. The correct instruction is: yard waste should be collected in paper bags. Thank you!
Inside this issue:
Experience National Night Out 2023
West Charlotte's Fight Against Food Scarcity
History & Affordable Housing at The Meadows at Plato Price
Housing & Mission Serve's Housing Rehab Collaboration
HOMES Grant: Support for Charlotte Homeowners
Insights from the 22nd Neighborhood Board Retreat
30 Years of Charlotte's Neighborhood Matching Grant
Mayor's Youth Employment Program Season 37 Concludes
And much more...
?Ÿ“± Connect with us for the latest news and happenings in your neighborhood.
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Subscribe to this newsletter.
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?Ÿ?Š National Night Out 2023: A Successful Day of Community Engagement
On August 1, Charlotte neighborhoods marked another successful National Night Out (NNO). Across over 60 participating neighborhoods, residents came together to strengthen community bonds and foster a deeper understanding of local law enforcement.
Activities Included:
- Food and Refreshments: Attendees enjoyed diverse offerings from ice cream socials, cookouts, and an array of food trucks.
- Activities and Entertainment: Highlights included DJ sets, dance-offs, movie screenings, and a surprise CMPD Helicopter landing in Highland Creek.
- Informative Sessions: Meet-and-greets and Q&A sessions with local first responders.
- Fun & Games: DJ sets, dance-offs, bounce houses, movie nights, video game trucks, and face painting.
- Education Support Initiatives: School supply drives for students.
Along with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the day also saw participation from the Charlotte Fire Department and city, county, and elected officials. Moreover, the team from HNS shared valuable information about our community programs.
NNO remains an essential event that fosters police-community partnerships, aiming to strengthen ties between neighbors and law enforcement and reinforce a spirit of community. We look forward to an even greater turnout and impact in the years to come!
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The Carolina Farm Trust held a groundbreaking event for the CFT Market on August 3. Addressing food scarcity, this market will open next spring at 511 South Hoskins Rd, a location identified as a food desert. Why is this important? Nearly 15% of Mecklenburg County residents lack consistent access to food.
What can you expect? Fresh, affordable, and locally-sourced produce. The market will have a retail grocery, a growing deck, an event space, a meat processing facility, and a teaching kitchen where cooking classes will be held. Even better, the products from the classes will be available for purchase in the grocery store, featuring a range of seasonal items.
Financial backing for this project's first phase includes $6 million from Mecklenburg County, $1.5 million from the City of Charlotte, and $4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Stay tuned for more info on this exciting endeavor!
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On August 1, a major milestone was at The Meadows at Plato Price, an upcoming community of 39 affordable homes on Charlotte's west side, near Morris Field Drive. The first seven homes in the development are now fully built! When complete, this will be the largest, for-sale affordable housing development in the region.
HNS division director Shawn Heath spoke about the significance of the development at the August 1 event.
The development came to life when the City of Charlotte City Council greenlit the land's donation to Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region in 2018. The city also provided $1.2 million in CDBG funding and will provide down payment assistance to the buyers of each home through the House Charlotte program. The development has progressed swiftly, with many city volunteers joining in the construction efforts.
Notably, The Meadows holds historical significance as it stands on the Plato Price School site, established in 1915. This school played a key role in African American education during segregation. The development honors the city’s rich history while looking forward to a future where everyone has a place to call home.
Further highlighting the city's commitment to affordable housing, The Meadows has been chosen for the 2023 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The project will bring together volunteers, partners, supporters, and future homeowners in building more of the development's 39 houses. The project will be hosted by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood and will take place from October 1-6, 2023.
Over the last five years, the city has directed nearly $9 million in city funds to Habitat for Humanity to preserve and create new homes across Charlotte.
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Every summer, the City of Charlotte joins hands with Mission Serve, a faith-based organization, welcoming a new team of volunteers for a week-long home repair initiative. This year’s project occurred in July.
The city’s financial support was significant. This year alone, the city has given around $25,000, covering building materials and equipment rentals. Meanwhile, Mission Serve brought in the volunteers and lead the construction. This year, they’ve also introduced exterior painting alongside their usual roofing services.
For the last five years, Elizabeth Lamy, a housing rehabilitation specialist, has been selecting the neighborhood and the homes that can most benefit from these repairs. The focus was on neighborhoods already undergoing community improvements. By layering efforts, they hope to bring about bigger change. This year, Hidden Valley was the top pick. Notably, the city’s Staying in Place program and several other community-focused organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together are already active in this area.
Collaboration is the backbone of this project, both in selecting homes and in conducting the repairs. Marjorie Parker, the president of the Hidden Valley Community Association, played a vital role this year in identifying homes in need of repairs, primarily households with low to moderate incomes.
This year’s construction crew consisted of volunteers from Deermeadows Baptist Church from Jacksonville, Florida, Hickory Grove Baptist Church from Clinton, North Carolina, First Baptist Hickory from Hickory, North Carolina and River Rock Church from Ponte Vedra, Florida.
The project reflects Charlotte's emphasis on partnerships and commitment to housing repair needs. “We’re endlessly thankful to all our partners, especially Mission Serve, for coming back to Charlotte year after year,” said Elizabeth.
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Attention Mecklenburg County homeowners! You might be eligible for the HOMES program grant. Here's what you need to know:
- What is it? The HOMES program stands for Helping Out Mecklenburg’s homeowners with Economic Support. It's a grant to support eligible homeowners.
- Grant Amount? Qualified county homeowners can receive up to $426.
- Live in Charlotte? Great news! If you're within Charlotte city limits, you can get an additional grant of up to $234. That's a potential total of $660!
- Deadline: Don't wait too long. The application deadline is November 17.
- How to Apply: Visit www.MeckNC.gov/4HOMES or dial 980-314-4663.
Spread the word and make the most of this opportunity!
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In July, 17 neighborhood organizations came together at the 22nd Neighborhood Board Retreat, hosted at Central Piedmont Community College. This event served as a platform for neighborhood leaders to forge connections, identify neighborhood priorities, and develop actionable goals to enhance residents' quality of life.
?Ÿ”¦ Spotlight: Community Partner Resource Fair
Participants explored a wealth of city and community resources. A big shout-out to our partners: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte Fire Department, Community ToolBank, Mecklenburg County Public Health, City of Charlotte Landscape Management, and City of Charlotte Community Engagement.
?Ÿ’¡Innovation Corner: Piloting the Neighborhood Resiliency “Track"
During the retreat, our Community Engagement team piloted an activity focused on neighborhood resilience. With the guidance of trained facilitators, participants devised strategies against community displacement. As a result, each neighborhood established three specific, actionable goals to address this pressing issue in their community.
This activity was a part of the Neighborhood Resiliency “Track”, an initiative designed for neighborhoods that have either attended a Neighborhood Board Retreat or have received a Neighborhood Matching Grant. The Neighborhood Resiliency “Track” supports the city's vision of stable neighborhoods and reducing community displacement.
Thank you to everyone that supported July’s Neighborhood Board Retreat and contributed to its success!
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The city’s Neighborhood Matching Grant program has hit the big 3-0! Over the past 30 years the program has:
- Awarded over 1,000 grants to community groups.
- Funded numerous projects that have transformed local neighborhoods.
- Strengthened community bonds and boosted neighborhood spirit.
?Ÿ?Š What's Happening for the 30th Celebration?
- Spotlight on Success: Daily posts on our social media in July that showcased some of the standout projects. Check out the projects by following us online!
- Visual Timeline: A detailed graphic will depict the program's journey and its standout projects up to 2022. This visual treat will be on display at CMGC from September 1 to 30.
- Bus Tour: In September, the NMG review team will take a bus tour of transformational projects across the city. The tour will give riders a chance to learn, get inspired, and network with neighborhoods that have led successful projects. Be on the lookout for pictures and videos from the tour in the October newsletter!
Join us in celebrating this milestone and get inspired for the future!
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Photos from an Optimist Hall luncheon.
The 37th season of the Mayor's Youth Employment Program (MYEP) has wrapped up! With the generous support from partners and host employers, more than 250 students embarked on a transformative journey into the professional realm. This opportunity allowed them to expand their connections and hone essential career skills.
This summer, Housing and Neighborhood Services had the pleasure of hosting three MYEP students:
- Camila Villegas with Code Enforcement
- Lindsey Liles in Community Engagement
- Sophia Manning in Housing Services
These talented students not only learned about the City of Charlotte's inner workings but also contributed significantly to various projects. Through such initiatives, MYEP continues its mission of enriching and elevating our city's youth.
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?Ÿ?† Cheers to Raquishela Stewart: Our Champion of Change
We're pleased to announce that Raquishela Stewart has received the 2023 Service to the Citizen: Champions of Change award! This distinction is given to public servants and their industry partners who demonstrate excellence in delivering services that impact the publics' lives and rebuild trust in government. The ceremony will be held in Washington, DC on September 15.
This recognition highlights both Raquishela's efforts and the consistent dedication of the entire 311 team. Kudos to Raquishela and CharMeck 311 for their notable achievement. Well done!
?ŸŒ? 311 On the Go: Summer Community Engagement Highlights
In June and July, the 311 On the Go team was active and bustling, making appearances at various community events, including town hall meetings. A standout event was an enhanced outreach clinic held on July 1 at the Animal Care and Control Shelter. Attendees had access to:
- Free rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats, and ferrets.
- Complimentary pet ID tags.
- Live equipment demonstrations by the emergency response team.
Kudos to the 311 On the Go team for their efforts in the community!
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?Ÿ?‚ Code Enforcement Tip of the Month
Leaves and other yard waste should not be blown into the street. All yard waste must be bagged in paper bags or open containers and placed at the curb no earlier than the day prior to collection.
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