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MJ-Beautiful soul.
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Gary’s Jackson Street of Dreams Housing Project To Be Dedicated On Michael Jackson’s Birthday
GARY | Partners gathered in a vacant lot at 25th Avenue and Jackson Street Thursday morning to ceremoniously break ground on a new home project aimed at revitalizing the neighborhood as well as the city.
“It’s more than building houses,” Jeff Cardwell, special assistant to Gov. Mike Pence said. “This is about changing lives.”
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said discussions began about six months ago when Cardwell approached her with the idea of bringing a Fuller Center for Housing project to her city.
Freeman-Wilson said there had been a host of ideas discussed for the area near 2300 Jackson Street where Michael Jackson and his famous siblings once lived.
The previous ideas, Freeman-Wilson said, were “all sorts of big ideas, but no money.”
With this proposal, the mayor said she, “immediately started to see that vision.”
“What better way to honor the legacy of Michael Jackson and Katherine Jackson … than to really make this something we would be proud for tourists from all over the world to see,” Freeman-Wilson said.
The Christian-based Fuller Center for Housing — a Georgia-based nonprofit founded by the late Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller — helped establish a local chapter with a board to oversee the project.
Four homes in a two-block radius near 25th Avenue and Jackson Street will be built and mortgages will be held by the nonprofit. Families can purchase the homes for about $50,000 with no interest and pay them off in about 10 years.
The project brings local, county and state governmental entities and elected officials from both sides of the aisle together with corporate and nonprofit donors and volunteers.
The Rev. Chet Johnson of New Tabernacle Baptist Church and president of the board of directors for the project, said the program aims to provide affordable housing for those unable to secure traditional mortgages.
Site preparation work will begin soon, officials said, and construction begins Aug. 25 with a prayer service at 7:30 a.m.
Anyone can volunteer to work on the project, which will complete construction on four homes in five days.
“If you can stand on two feet, have a heartbeat and breathe, you’re qualified,” Cardwell said.
Pence is expected to spend time putting in hard labor working on the project as well, Cardwell said.
“Everyone’s put their differences aside,” he said. “This is not a political program. This is about helping people.”
The project will be complete on Aug. 29, which would have been Michael Jackson’s 56th birthday. A 3 p.m. dedication ceremony is scheduled for that day.
NIPSCO contributed $50,000 to the project and the Indiana Department of Correction pledged $50,000 as well. All of the Department of Correction funds have been raised and donated by inmates at the Westville facility, said Jerry Vance, executive director.
Those inmates will also be providing labor for the project.
Majestic Star Casino and the Gary Railcats are partnering for two fundraising efforts as well. Centier Bank also has pledged financial support.
Local laborers, small hardware stores and Menards also have pledged support.
How to volunteerSPOILER (click to view)To volunteer or submit an initial application to purchase one of the homes, go to www.fullercenter.org or call the Fuller Center for Housing’s Gary office at (219) 884-5804.
Source: http://vallieegirl67.com/2014/05/23/garys-...ksons-birthday/
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Gary's Jackson Street of Dreamsprogetto di costruzione residenziale da dedicare al compleanno di MJ |
