Less than two years ago, the Isaiah 61 Project contacted Niagara Falls Community Development to collaborate. The guiding concepts were both simple and complex: Renovate vacant houses. Prevent costly demolition. Put those properties back on the tax roll. Train the under-employed. Create new homeowners. Repeat. From day one, the project has been equal parts ambition, common sense and faith. Today we see the results of the work and are ready to take the next step. The first renovation, 2215 Whitney Avenue, is ready for a new owner. The Open House is on Sunday, July 27, 1-3 pm.
The renovation of 2215 Whitney Avenue shows the real power of community partnerships. The Isaiah 61 Project began with Destination Life Fellowship Church and several church partners. Then Orleans/Niagara BOCES stepped up to provide the all-important job training component, and the City of Niagara Falls supplied the houses. The John R. Oishei Foundation provided the start-up funding that allowed the entire program to move forward. From there, MIKELLY Construction, KCB Architects, Newman Electric, H.W. Bryk & Sons, M&T Bank, Key Bank, First Niagara Bank, Woodforest Bank, Deal Realty, United States Department of Housing and Urban Renewal, WNY Regional Economic Development Council, WNY Power Proceeds Allocation Board, Home Depot, 84 Lumber, the UB Law School Housing Clinic, the Niagara County Building Trades Council, Niagara County Department of Social Services, the Departments of Parole and Probation, Wendel Companies, Community Foundation/Niagara Area Foundation, Niagara County Employment and Training, SUNY ATTAIN Lab, Niagara Falls City School District, Highland Community Revitalization Committee, Niagara Beautification Commission, Niagara Falls Teachers Union, and many more found ways to support the Isaiah 61 Project with needed funding, donated services and volunteer hours. Everyone stood together, kept pushing the idea forward, and made great things happen in the city of Niagara Falls.
One house on Whitney Avenue brought together all levels of government, regional banks, small businesses, faith-based groups, and philanthropic organizations. One house served as a living classroom that saw over 60 students graduate with on-site trades training, with over 70 percent of those graduates finding local job placement. This one house is physical proof that our community can unite and support an idea that makes sense and produces results, even if it is unconventional and requires a different type of thinking. It is also the justification to rethink the city’s approach to the sale of property, tax auctions, and demolitions. The Isaiah 61 Project set out to reclaim a city one home, one family, one person at a time. With the help of many extraordinary partners, it is doing just that.
If you drive by the Grand Island Bridge reconstruction project, the Isaiah 61 ReClaim Store, or any of our other job sites, you will see Isaiah 61 graduates working hard and earning a living wage. If you drive by 16th Street, Memorial Parkway and the Highland Avenue Fire House, you will see more of the home renovations that are helping to clean up our neighborhoods, as well as the expansion of the Isaiah 61 Project into an even more effective catalyst for economic growth in our city.
Niagara Falls is a “show me” community, and we know that seeing bricks and mortar results tells the story much better than words. We welcome the community to the 2215 Whitney Avenue Open House, hosted by Deal Realty on July 27, 1-3 pm. Most importantly, we offer our sincere thanks to all of the partners that offered time and resources and the community at large for offering its support. More to come.
Seth Piccirillo is the Director of Niagara Falls Community Development & Jim Haid is the Executive Director of the Isaiah 61 Project.
Leave a Reply