BEAT breaks ground on new home in Enon Ridge
The faux gold shovels gleamed on Monday afternoon in Enon Ridge when Councilor John Hilliard was on hand for the ground breaking of a new home being built through the Bethel-Ensley Action Task (BEAT) revitalization program.
In a few short months, Marian Hall, who currently lives in Fultondale, will be moving into a brand new residence in Enon Ridge — neighboring two other homes that have already been built through the BEAT initiative. Eventually there will be a total of 11 affordable homes built in the District 9 neighborhood.
“Actually it was a couple years ago [that BEAT began work on this project],” said Adrienne Reynolds, Enon Ridge Neighborhood Association President. “It started under a previous administration, Roderick Royal, and then Marcus Lundy and now John Hilliard. It is our hope that with this administration the project will be completed…We’ve been working with BEAT to get people to fill out the applications for the home so they can be occupied once they are built.”
Reynolds said she is excited about the prospect of having more neighbors and property values increasing with the new home construction.
Working in conjunction with BEAT, Wells Fargo’s Neighborhood Lift Program helps residents in securing a down payment for a home. Philip Bazinet, a branch manager for Wells Fargo, explained how they assist organizations aimed at making home ownership a reality for lower-income families.
“Neighborhood Lift is a nationwide program with Wells Fargo and we’ve been in 50 cities,” Bazinet said. “It allows homebuyers to get assistance for a down payment, not just first time homebuyers. Whether they have a little money to put forward or if they have zero money. It gives them an opportunity to get into a home. It goes from anywhere from $2,500 to $7,500 in Jefferson County. They can utilize those funds if they qualify.”
Hilliard said he was excited for the neighborhood, as he stood in front of the razed lot that will become a construction zone in the coming days. “It’s important from an economic standpoint that we assist and help build relationships with groups like the Neighborhood Associations, BEAT and Wells Fargo…I’m glad the City Council, along with the mayor’s office is wise enough to see fit to invest in these organizations.
“Pretty soon there will be a home on this lot, which means another taxpayer. She’s moving from a neighboring city,” Hilliard continued. “She’s already committed to working in the neighborhood. We give money to things like Mercedes and other companies, why not invest in the people? It just makes sense.”
Originally founded in 1991 to improve the housing opportunities in the area surrounding the Bethel AME Church, BEAT recently came under scrutiny from former District 9 Councilor Marcus Lundy for not meeting the goals it had set forth with the council. The body delayed rescinding the funding for BEAT, which now appears to be ready to complete the project in an expeditious manner, Hilliard said.
According to Bhamwiki.com: “Wells Fargo donated almost $70,000 in seed money to BEAT in 2013 and 2014, which they leveraged to finance development of several below market-rate duplex apartments in the vicinity of Jackson-Olin High School. With assistance from the City of Birmingham, BEAT has also constructed infill housing in Enon Ridge and worked to bring about a transformative revitalization of downtown Ensley, which was thought of as something along the lines of a park, health care clinic and business incubator before former Mayor William Bell announced the redevelopment of the Ramsay-McCormack Building as the centerpiece of a Birmingham Public Safety Complex in November 2016.”
Marian Hall, for one, is eager for the opportunities that await once she moves into her new home, which she said, wouldn’t be possible without the help of BEAT and the Wells Fargo’s Neighborhood Lift program. “I can’t wait to be here with my new neighbors,” Hall said, holding a shovel. “I am going to tell everyone about the BEAT program. I want to thank everyone who made this day possible.”
