Columbus Cottage #4

WELCOME HOME MR. WALKER!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Clyde Walker became the fourth recipient of a Columbus Cottage this morning on land his parents bought while working at the old Bibb Mill. “I’ll sleep well tonight,” said Walker, 74, as he stood in his new kitchen watching well-wishers tour his home. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I was like a little kid waiting on Santa Claus.”

The house on 13th Avenue near 50th Street, is a two-bedroom, one bath cottage with linoleum tile floors and a fully equipped kitchen, including a dishwasher. The bath has ceramic tile floors and a walk-in shower. An elevated covered concrete front porch sports a wicker rocking chair donated for the occasion.

Walker is a Columbus native who grew up on the lot where his new cottage now sits. Born in 1938, he moved to Buffalo, N.Y., in the late ‘50s, where he worked as a truck driver for about 20 years. When Walker’s father, Willie, died, his mother, Viola, wasn’t able to keep the house up. So when she died and left the house to Walker, it was dilapidated. Walker tried to repair the house, but it became too much for his fixed income. That was when the Columbus Cottage program stepped in. Last November, the old house was torn down and construction was begun on the new cottage.

Columbus Cottage is a program of NeighborWorks Columbus. It provides help for elderly residents whose homes have fallen into disrepair. When residents are chosen, their houses are demolished and replaced with a $40,000-$50,000 cottage that they will be theirs to live in for the rest of their lives. Upon their death, the house reverts to the cottage program to be used for another elderly person in need. “I think this might be our best one yet,” said Cathy Williams, CEO of NeighborWorks, after this morning’s ceremony.

In addition to the new home, Walker will be allowed to go to the PAWS/Animal Control complex and choose a pet to share it with.

Congratulations Mr. Clyde Walker

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:35:26 GMT

MR. CLYDE WALKER Columbus Cottage Recipient 4 Mr. Clyde Walker has worked his entire life. His first job was at Prime Electric in Bibb City and later worked for National Linen in Columbus. He moved to Buffalo, New York when he was twenty and worked for 20 years at Will Poultry as a Truck Driver. After retiring, he returned to his hometown roots in Georgia. He is currently employed at Ross Department Store. Mr. Walker credits his positive attitude to working hard his entire life and never giving up but for years, he has called 13th Street home. He still maintains his yard and cuts the grass himself. Now his beloved home needs costly repairs that he cannot manage that on his fixed income. His roof starting leaking, leading to total corrosion of the main beams and sinking floors, making the house virtually unlivable. There is a pecan tree on his property that his Mother and Father planted when they first lived in the home. He enjoys the “handyman role” and has done a lot of work to the house himself. His love of working with tools shows in his home where he has laid tile, patched the roof several times, and built the closets and cabinets himself. Mr. Walker is a proud and dignified man who at the age of 73 is still working hard. He remains humbled by the announcement that he will soon be the proud owner of a new Cottage on the lot where he had happy family memories for years!

Mrs. Hubbard's Thanksgiving Miracle

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:23:19 GMT

As turkey day approaches the staff and contractors at NeighborWorks have been very busy. We told Mrs. Hubbard that we would try to finish before the holidays and we plan to turn over the keys next Wednesday, November 25^th at 10:00 a.m.

The site looked like an ant farm today. There were people/workers swarming all over it. I hope you will have a chance to drive by and see the cottage and make time to join us on Wednesday. Watch the slide show and you can have an idea of what has been happening this last week.

We will all count our blessings and reminding ourselves of what we are thankful for next week. Personally speaking, I am very thankful that I live in a generous community that is committed to taking care of the least among us. So let me say thank you to all who contributed and all who have sent us their prayers for good weather and no glitches. Mrs. Hubbard will spend this winter in a warm, safe, secure and efficient cottage. God bless all of you during the holiday season, thank you for making this dream for Mrs. Hubbard a reality.

Join us Wednesday!!

Columbus Cottage #2 is a GO!

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:30:55 GMT

Columbus Cottage #2 got the go ahead last night as City Council approved the conditional re-zoning of Ms. Hubbard’s lot.

We will be kicking off our annual campaign tomorrow, Thursday, August 27th at 4:00 p.m. The kick off will be at the home she is currently living in, located at: 1420 50th Street (near Marvin’s Market).

I hope to see you there.

Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Public Announcement

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:04:08 GMT

NeighborWorks® Columbus of Columbus, Georgia is submitting an application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the second round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Funds in the amount of approximately $15,000,000 will be sought to help stabilize as many as 18 different census tracts in the greater Columbus area. This plan would include the purchase of vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties. These lots would be rehabbed and sold to those earning from below 50% up to 120% of the Area Median Income.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) was established by Section III of Division B of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA), 2008.   HERA provided funding to assist states and localities in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed Homes.

The Draft of the application requesting the funding will be placed on NeighborWorks® Columbus’ website at http://www.nwcolumbus.org. The Draft may also be reviewed at the following locations between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00 Monday through Thursday after July 15:

      NeighborWorks® Columbus * 18 Eleventh Street * Columbus GA 31901

A Public Comment Period begins on July 8, 2008 and ends September 30, 2009.
Please comment on this post or written comments may be submitted to:

NeighborWorks®

18 Eleventh Street
Columbus, Georgia 31901
Attn: David Fox
Or via email at dfox@nwcolumbus.org

For questions regarding the grant, please contact David Fox at (706) 324-4663.

In the beginning

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:10:29 GMT

The Columbus Cottage Program was originally designed to assist elderly indigent residents living in substandard conditions on property they own. Ms. Hubbard had a unique situation; her home had become landlocked by commercial development. The lot her home sits on is not much larger than the house itself and would not accommodate a cottage. Fortunately, her husband passed on another lot down the street a bit in his will. This will allow us to build her cottage on this lot, in a residential neighborhood and take her out of both poor living conditions and out of a commercial zone. First things first, we must go to the Planning Advisory Council (PAC) and ask for a conditional re-zoning from RMF2 to RMF1. Then, based on the staff and PAC recommendations, the City Council will need to have it on first and second reading. Hopefully, we will be able to begin construction of Ms. Hubbards cottage by the end of July. Stay tuned.

Welcome

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:04:16 GMT

Welcome to our blog. Here we hope to update you on the progress of the Columbus Cottage Program as well as answer any of your questions that you might have about this amazing new program in our community. Stay tuned, we will be updating the blog often. I hope you will consider subscribing to the blog so you can stay “on top” of what’s new.

Welcome

Tue, 12 May 2009 11:57:50 GMT

Welcome to the NeighborWorks Columbus Cottage Campaign Blog.