Urban Awareness USA, Director of Community Development
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PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Accomplished executive, with over 17 years of experience in the non-profit arena. Have been responsible for over $55 million in housing development, from single family development to independent seniors’ multi-family development. It is through these years of experience as Executive Director and President/CEO of Southside Community Development & Housing Corp. (SCDHC) that I bring the expertise, skills and knowledge to be effective in the development market. During my tenure, SCDHC (the development arm of the Richmond Christian Center) grew from its roots as a faith-based organization, created to revitalize a single community, to an organization poised to help in the revitalization of disadvantaged communities across the Nation. |
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Mr. James W. Middleton, Community Development Director for Urban Awareness USA . The mission for Urban Awareness USA's Community Development Division is to improve the quality of life for those families who have been disenfranchised and subject to substandard living conditions in urban communities around the United States. The strategy is to build economic development opportunities through education and training, and to encourage financia linvestments in distressed areas that will help help alleviate joblessness, inadequate housing, and the conditions that result in substandard education. Specific programs encompass areas that affect the quality of life in housing, education, business, and employment.
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Single Family Development and Home Ownership |
PARADISE PLACE -- PHASE I, Richmond, Virginia (1992-1993) 11 single family detached
PARADISE PLACE – PHASE II, Richmond, Virginia (1993-1995) 19 single family detached
$3,250,000
1995 Governor’s Award for Excellence for Outstanding Development in difficult to develop areas.
“First Housing Subdivision in City in 20th Century and ever by a non-profit”.
| Porter Street was once an abandoned junkyard and filled with abandoned, arson, and rotted property, commonly considered to be the worst block in the area and located in the eye of the community, representing a major barrier to the revitalization of the Manchester/Blackwell neighborhoods. In less than three years, 30 units were constructed; which the new buyers, having formed their own neighborhood civic association, renamed the area “Paradise Place.” The new homes are unique in character, safe, energy efficient and occupied by first time home buyers. SCDHC has used virtual wizardry to qualify families with incomes as low as $18,000/year for new attractive $72,000 - $90,000 homes with extremely limited resources. Each new home buyer completes counseling courses in home ownership, credit preparation, budgeting, and home maintenance to ensure the longevity and integrity of the community. |
BAINBRIDGE STREET REVITALIZATION (1996-1997) 10 single family detached. $1,000,000
1700-1900 Bainbridge Street, Richmond, Virginia
Similar to Paradise Place Phase I, this project mixed new construction single family detached homes with substantial gut rehabilitation in the 1700-1900 blocks of Bainbridge Street. The result is 10 new homes, often comprised of 5 layers of mixed financing equity and grant sources to qualify first time low income homeowners. SCDHC was also able to use several reverse mortgage loan products for existing low income elderly residents living in these blocks.
OLD MANCHESTER REVITALIZATION PROJECT PHASE I (1997-1999) 12 single family
1200 Bainbridge and Perry Street, Richmond, Virginia (Phase I ) – $1,250,000
This project is a historic rehabilitation project in the 1200 blocks of Bainbridge and Perry Street for new single family mixed low and upper income homes, in adjacent proximity to the Old Maury School which the SCDHC has developed into a Senior’s Apartment. SCDHC completed several units of housing in the Old Manchester Neighborhood in these blocks, restoring old duplexes and row houses into first time homeownership programs for families going through SCDHC’s extensive credit counseling and homeownership programs. |
DECATUR STREET REVITALIZATION (1998-1999) – Phase I – 20 single family. $2,065,000.
Cover Story Federal Reserve Marketwise Magazine -
Richmond, Virginia
This major undertaking comprised the arduous acquisition of various parcels of abandoned, tax delinquent, arson and condemned and dilapidated properties on one of the most notorious blocks in the city for criminal activity. In just over one year, crime had been obliterated in this block through Community Policing partnerships and once deteriorated drug houses have been replaced with 20 substantially rehabilitated and new constructed homes 1,500 – 2,100 sq ft homes with white picket fences; homeless drug users residing in boarded eyesores have been replaced with new stable working class first time homeowners; and drug dealers and prostitutes standing on corners have now been replaced with young children walking from their safe new homes to the new elementary school less than two blocks away.
NEIGHBORHOODS IN BLOOM-BLACKWELL REVITALIZATION PROJECT (1999 - Present)
Partnership with City of Richmond and Blackwell Community Partners and Civic associations
Richmond, Virginia; $1,875,000.
This project is a continuation of the efforts begun on Decatur Street in the Blackwell Neighborhood of South Richmond. Under this project, the SCDHC has contracted with the City of Richmond, RRHA and the Blackwell neighborhood association to be the developer for over 15 new homes annually for at least a two year term. This projects focus was on impact development in specific target blocks to eradicate deteriorated housing stock replaced with low to median income qualified families for first time homeowners. |
CARVER - NEWTOWNE WEST - REVITALIZATION PROJECT (2003 - Present)
Development of 3 new construction and 6 rehabilitated single family units. $1,215,000.
Partnership with City of Richmond, Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority and Carver/Newtowne West Community Partners and Civic Associations -
Richmond, Virginia
The Carver and Newtowne West communities was develop in the 19th century and was
home to economically and socially diverse populations. SCDHC completed construction
of 3 new and rehabilitated homes unique in character located in the Carver/Newtowne
West Neighborhood in 2004-2005. SCDHC rehabilitated 5 historic homes
and 1 new construction in the Carver Community.
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BELLMEADE COMMUNITY (2005-2007)- Acquisition of vacant land on Columbia Street for the development of 3 new construction single family units. $405,000.
Partnership with City of Richmond and Virginia Supportive Housing and Civic Associations
Richmond, Virginia |
HOPE VI /OFF-SITE BLACKWELL /SWANSBORO (2005-Present)
Development of 8 new construction and 8 rehabilitated single family units. $2,320,000.
Partnership with Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority, City of Richmond and Community Partners and Civic Associations -
Richmond, Virginia
Eight (8) vacant houses are being fully rehabilitated on Decatur and Bainbridge Streets. Eight
new houses to be built on vacant land on Pilkington and Wise Streets. |
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Multi-Family Development and Property Management |
CHICAGO MANOR (1997-1998) 74 unit apartment rehabilitation, Low Income Housing Tax Credits $2,500,000. -
1700-1800 Chicago Avenue, Richmond, Virginia
SCDHC completed the restoration of a $2.5 million tax credit project, the 74 unit then Eleanor Gardens Apartments, which suffered from substantial deterioration and partial abandonment with a 50-60% vacancy rate, located in the heart of the Blackwell Community. Blackwell was the lowest census tract in the city, with average household incomes of only $5,000 per year, and the highest concentrations of public housing, highest crime rates, and lowest home ownership. Eleanor Gardens, now renamed Chicago Manor has been beautifully renovated with Virginia Housing Development Authority Low Income Housing Tax Credits, enjoys 90-100% occupancy.
SOUTHWOOD VILLAGE (1998-1999) 1,286 unit rehabilitation 501C3 Tax Exempt Bond Finance: $26,000,000.
“. . . Largest Non-Profit Tax Exempt Bond Financing transaction in the country this year (1998)” and “the largest city investment (1997) and ever by a non-profit housing group in the city’s history”
On November 20, 1997, SCDHC closed on the precedent setting Southwood Village formerly known as The Palms. The project has been nationally acknowledged as the “largest Non-Profit Tax Exempt Bond Financing transaction in the country [this year]” and “the largest city investment by a non-profit housing group in the city’s history.” The project is a $26 million dollar, 1,286 unit apartment renovations with dramatically improved quality of life and management features in the spirit of Chicago Manor above. More importantly, the project included a newly constructed $1.25 million Community Center for the residents and their guests. . SCDHC was the co-owner of the project with Community Development Research Group (CDRG), a Vermont based non-profit, and SCDHC was the co-developer with the for-profit Artcraft Companies who has done volumes of mirror apartment renovations throughout the state including the co-owner/developer of Chicago Manor with SCDHC. |
MAURY PARK SENIOR APARTMENTS (2001-2003) independent living, VHDA tax
credit/State Historic tax credit; 45 units: $5,200,000.
1411 Bainbridge Street, Richmond, Virginia
SCDHC converted the former, 112 year old Elementary Maury School into a state of the art independent living facility located in the Historic Manchester Neighborhood of South Richmond. |
SANDSTON PLATEAU RETIREMENT COMMUNITY (2000-2006) 100 units Independent Living Apartments. $6,500,000. -
Henrico, Virginia
SCDHC acquired a serenely wooded 19.5 acre site in Sandston, Virginia, a town located in Eastern Henrico County. Currently 100 new construction units for seniors 55 and older @ 50% percent area median income. are under construction using on 5 of the 19. acres. Completed December 2006. |
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| Home Ownership Education and Counseling Services |
HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM (1999-Present) in 1998 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded SCDHC a grant that implemented the creation of the Housing Counseling Program and certified the agency as a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency for Comprehensive Counseling.
VIRGINIA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY selected SCDHC to receive SPARC (Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalization Communities) funds in 2004 and 2005 totaling $7,500,000 and awarded grant funds to provide homeownership education and counseling.
AMERICAN DREAM DOWNPAYMENT INITIATIVE (2004-2006) Awarded contract to administer the federally funded down payment assistance and Housing Counseling Program for Henrico County. $500,000. |
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| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| As the city’s pioneer for holistic community development, the SCDHC is building economic development, commercial revitalization, an incubator, and human self sufficiency programs. In 1995 the SCDHC formed the Virginia Community Development Loan Fund, a micro loan corporation and certified Community Development Financial Institution for community lending and business development creating new businesses and jobs; the Fresh Starts Job Development & Employment Training Program was created in 1997 for at-risk individuals seeking employment opportunities. |
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Summary of Organizational Experience
- Constructed/Rehabilitated over 134 single family homes, for low and very low income families, whose income is between 40%- 80% of the median income;
- Provided over 1,800 clients housing and credit counseling; provided 12 clients grants for home improvements; provided over 150 clients assistance in obtaining down payment, closing cost assistance and SPARC permanent financing;
- Through a combination of Tax Credits and 501© (3) Bonds, acquired over 1,300 units of affordable multifamily housing;
- Reduced criminal activities in its housing revitalization targeted blocks by almost 100%;
- Leveraged over $12 million in private investment for single-family homes and nearly $46 million dollars of private investment for multifamily housing. Total leveraging equals approximately $60 million in private investments into the Old South District of Richmond, Virginia over the past ten years;
- Total single family development $14,400,000
- Total multi-family development: $42,300,000.
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Email: bmiddleton@urbanawarenessusa.org
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