|
|
Waco Community Development has a great history.
|
|
|
History:
|
2001 - 4 Business men and one minister got together to try and find a way to channel their gifts into
service to the community. The decided to form a community development corporation.
The five founders - Bily Davis, Tim Holtkamp, Jon Spelman, Walt Keeler and Jimmy Dorrell formed a board
of directors. They spent a year
studying other successful organizations in the United States that had undertaken community development
programs. One of these organizations was FCS Urban Ministries
out of Atlanta Georgia. Bob Lupton the executive director of FCS consulted to help organize Waco Community Development.
Lupton came and toured Waco. The board of directors toured the communities that FCS had been a part
of in Atlanta. A target area for Waco Community Development was selected. The area of North Waco bounded by W.Waco Drive
and Colcord and the Brazos River and N. 17th Street
Show me on Mapquest
From these efforts a master plan was developed. The master plan identified these goals for the target
area.
- To bring neighbors back together into a healthy, mixed income community
- To promote home ownership in depressed neighborhoods, and encourage decent rental and multi-family housing
- To form coalition and working relationships with other community agencies and organizations
- To improve the infrastructure of the designated areas
- To develop guidelines for improving existing housing and new housing development
- To promote economic development, including retail and industrial business
- To create a feeling of community and re-neighboring
- To promote social services and opportunity for the area
2002
Feb - Waco Community Development undertook its first house construction project by taking an older home and completly rehabbing
the home.
April - Waco Community Development become recognized by the city as a Community Housing Development Organization(CHDO). One of
three in Waco.
September - The Waco City Council reviewed and endorsed the Master Plan.
October - The Waco City Council awarded a contract with Waco Community Development for the lots in North Waco. Waco Community Development maintains
lots and can buy them for construction of homes.
In November, Mike Stone came on board as the Executive Director.
In December, ground was broke for Waco Community Development's first new home in north Waco.
2003
2003 started off with the first new construction CHDO homes for north Waco. A local builder, EDC homes
was awarded the contract to build two new 1350 sq ft, 3 bedroom/2 bath homes. Two great homes were constructed.
2004
2004 started off with the construction of CHDO #3.
Waco Community Development was officially recognized as a Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Counseling agency.
February - Waco Community Development began providing free homebuyer counseling and credit counseling.
April - M.L. Dickey was contracted to be the construction manager for Waco Community Development.
CHDO #4 construction was started
CHDO #5 construction was started
2005
2005 was kick started with a luncheon raising funds for the Waco's Community Development first large middle income home,
the Sullivan house. Over 104 people contributed $90,000 for the construction of the home.
April - The Heart of Texas Builders association joined in the support of the Sullivan House with a very
successful fundraiser.
PICTURE
Abby Sobel joined Waco Community Development as a part-time administration assistant.
CHDO #6 was constructed
CHDO #7 was constructed
CHDO #8 was constructed
July - The Sullivan House construction began.
August - Rehab #3 began
2006
January
We started on CHDO #9
February 28 we moved into our new office at 1624.
|
|
