Help for a proud, old neighborhood

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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The TotalChild Wellington Heights Initiative is basically seeking to answer a crucial question: Can aggressive non-profit intervention aimed at cleaning up and rehabilitating dozens of homes and residential properties, including some of those most frequently visited by police, actually turn around the fortunes of a proud old urban neighborhood sliding toward decline?

We think it's got a fighting chance.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Affordable Housing Network Inc., an affiliate of the Four Oaks children's services agency. The network has acquired 32 properties within an 18-square-block section of Wellington Heights on the southeast side, and is also managing 23 properties owned by Iowa City accountant/business owner Tim Terry.

The network owns 15 of Wellington Heights' 30 “highest crime addresses” and last week demolished a crime-ridden seven-plex at 1415 Bever Avenue as a clear signal of its desire to substantially change the neighborhood. Tenants living in properties controlled by the network must clear background checks and other requirements that have been lacking among some neighborhood property managers.

Most of the properties owned by the network are to be rehabilitated, with the goal of turning rental properties into owner-occupied homes. A rent-to-own process will allow tenants to have a portion of their monthly rent set aside for an eventual down payment.

Quality housing, owned by families, has the potential to boost the neighborhood's prospects and alter negative public perceptions. That's good for families and, of course, children, hence the name TotalChild. Backers of the effort hope that more families and investors follow. Slow decline turns into steady improvement.

But make no mistake, this is not going to be a quick fix. The announcements and ceremonies that have marked the public launch of the initiative are only one milepost on a very long road. It's going to take considerable hard work, determination and resources to make even modest gains. Problems that took decades to creep in will not be eradicated overnight with a fresh coat of paint.

City leaders have pledged support, including talk of tougher landlord standards. That's good. But what Terry and the network have found as they've purchased properties are serious violations of existing city building codes, including health and safety problems. New ordinances may be needed, but the city needs to increase its effort to enforce the regulations already on the books.

Clearly, obstacles remain. There is risk and success may be hard to see. But one thing we know for certain is that Wellington Heights deserves a fighting chance.

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