THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607090127
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 71 lines
Since 1984, the Olde Huntersville Development Corp. has been recognized for helping the neighborhood put on a new face.
Through innovative financing, this nonprofit group has built some 70 houses for the low- to moderate-income residents that live in the community, an area generally between Johnson and C avenues along Church Street and Tidewater Drive.
But in recent months the Olde Huntersville Development Corp. has broadened its reach, expanding into social service programs. After-school tutoring, job readiness training, small business workshops, computer courses and sports activities are being offered to residents at no cost.
``We're not just building homes anymore - we're building people,'' said Beatrice ``Bea'' Jennings, the group's executive director. ``And we're kind of swamped. There are so many things going on.''
Job readiness training, a tennis team, and a math and reading skills class for youths were started recently.
``I saw the flier for the job program, and I thought I would take advantage of this,'' said resident Linda Oliver, who hasn't worked in several years. ``I need to upgrade my job and computer skills so I can be more marketable.''
``My two boys are very excited about the tennis,'' resident Mary Doggett said. ``My youngest thinks he's going to be the next Arthur Ashe.''
Although the organization has sponsored community involvement programs in past years, including food-basket drives, neighborhood cleanups and beautification projects, the more recent push has been on enhancing education and job-related skills.
Joy Gates, a former deputy sheriff in Norfolk and Hampton, took a small-business workshop in December and now operates a day-care site out of her Olde Huntersville home.
``People came in from businesses and banks, and guided us in what you have to do to start your own business,'' Gates said. ``They showed us about advertising, doing the books and organization. I'm so busy now that I unfortunately have to turn kids away. I hope to open a full center in the neighborhood one day.''
Programs are held in Olde Huntersville Development's two-story office building at the corner of Washington Street and Tidewater Drive. Volunteers and professional consultants from the city, local businesses and educational institutions provide much of the instruction.
The Olde Huntersville Development Corp. started in 1984 as a spinoff of the neighborhood civic league. The group was co-founded by Jennings and her daughter Bea Garvin when the pair and other civic league members joined Jim Rouse's National Enterprise Neighborhood Network. Jennings had grown up in the community and wanted to bring renewed life and pride to the deteriorating old section by providing residents with affordable homes.
Starting with seven charter directors, the grassroots organization now has a 22-member board and has established financial partnerships with more than 100 businesses, foundations, churches and individuals. About $12 million has been invested in the group since its inception, Jennings said.
Through home-buying workshops, grants, innovative financing and the facilitation of federal loans through the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Olde Huntersville Development Corp. has begun to revitalize the community and received high accolades along the way. Jennings' office wall is tacked with national, state and local housing awards.
``Our primary mission is still the development of affordable housing,'' said Jennings, whose group now is building eight homes. ``But our secondary mission is to take on programs to enrich people.''
Adult computer education is slated for the fall. Jennings says that more social service projects will be coming in the future. MEMO: For more information, call 625-1565. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Neighborhood children use the computers at the Olde Huntersville
Development Corp.'s center. by CNB