Community celebrates rehabilitation project completion

JOHNSON CITY, TENN. - The first of July is always special to Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation Executive Director Retha Patton - it's her birthday.

This year, however, the date meant just a little more.

Today Eastern Eight celebrated the completion of 122 Wilson Avenue, a project that will provide for the housing needs of eight low-income tenants and reinvigorate a distressed community.

"I'm very excited to be sharing this special event with all of our community partners who helped make this project a reality," Patton said. "I'm very thankful for all of the support we've received."

A number of organizations and individuals worked together on 122 Wilson. Just to name a few: Bank of Tennessee, the City of Johnson City, Builder's First Source and even Congress, through their guidance of the Federal Home Loan Bank funding program.

"A lot of people criticise our leaders in Congress for not looking out for the little man," said Phil Roe representative Bill Snodgrass. "However, through programs like this Congress is able to give back to communities. What better way to help than to secure safe housing for [Congress'] citizens?"

The Wilson Avenue community seems impressed with the work. "You wouldn't believe the comments and support we've gotten on this project," Patton said. "People are really happy with what we've done. We took an eyesore property that we purchased for $30,000 and turned it into an asset to this community worth more than $200,000."

Completion of 122 Wilson represented the fruit of some "labor-intensive work," according to Johnson City Community Development Director Stephen Baldwin.  "We couldn't be more happy with what we've done," he said. "This is proof of what we've said at countless meetings - we can plan all we want, but it takes partnerships like this to get results."

For Patton, 122 Wilson's completion is a moral as well. "We've done a lot of work in this community," she said. "I think the people who live here have had trouble believing that Wilson Avenue can be turned around.

"This is the statement they needed. I think they're starting to believe."

Information on how to rent one of the apartments at 122 Wilson Avenue is available here.

Eastern Eight on WCYB.