Memphis is a national finalist for a federal grant that city officials would use to raze Foote Homes and build a mixed-income housing facility.
Memphis is one of nine cities selected by the U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development [HUD] to compete for an individual grant worht up to $30 million to redevelop a targeted neighborhood.
HUD teams will arrive in the cities in the coming weeks to evaluate the buildings and the neighborhoods and meet with city officials. The winner of the grant will be announced in September.
The grant is available through President Barrack Obama’s Choice Neighborhood’s program, which aims to transform neighborhoods of poverty into viable mixed-income neighborhoods.
The grant finalists were chosen on how well their plans addressed the program’s goals of transforming distressed housing, supporting positive family outcomes, and employment, and improving neighborhoods.
While the city’s plan would destroy Foote Homes, the community group called Vance Avenue Collaborative believes the buildings can be and should be saved.
