Latest news with #communityrevitalization
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I've built an empire buying abandoned homes in a city blighted by crime and turning them into Instagram dreams
A Louisiana woman is breathing new life into the heart of a small Southern community that has been blighted by crime by buying up abandoned properties and renovating them. Sara McDaniel, a 47-year-old former teacher turned real estate investor and content creator, returned to her roots in 2016, eager to start a new chapter following a devastating divorce. Guided by her deep faith and fueling passion for something greater, she left Texas behind and found a new beginning in Minden, a tight-knit community of nearly 12,000 residents that has a rate of crime that is much higher than that of the average US city. The crime rate in Minden is 50.84 per 1,000 residents in the typical year, according to Crime Grade. The chance of being a victim of crime in Minden varies by neighborhood – ranging from 1 in 13 in the south neighborhoods to 1 in 28 in the north. McDaniel now owns what she describes as a total of '27 doors' - including 11 short-term rentals with the rest consisting of either long-term rentals, buys and holds or vacant land investments. But she says her investments have done more than just fulfill a personal vision - they've sparked the transformation of a neighborhood - with many of the properties being on the same street - that was once plagued by crime and drugs. Her most successful project to date earned her $220,000 last year, after she bought the property for just $50,000, but McDaniel says her mission has always been about more than profit or recognition. 'It's just a whole street centered around a theme of redemption - redemption of both properties and lives,' she told 'For me, it's about leaving a legacy long after I'm gone.' 'It's a metaphor, taking these blighted and historic properties on this street. You know, it's a metaphor for the things that can happen in our lives,' she added. Originally from Springhill, Louisiana, McDaniel spent her early career in education, working as a third and fourth grade teacher, an assistant principal and an educational sales representative. However when she found herself in the midst of a gut-wrenching divorce in 2009, she discovered the Financial Independence Early Retirement movement (FIRE) - a strategy focused on aggressively saving, often up to 50 percent of one's income, to build long-term financial freedom. She decided to commit to the FIRE movement, prompting her to leave her teaching job and, as she put it, 'put all my eggs in real estate '. 'I also did it to prove to myself that I could,' she said, detailing the sacrifice of living on slashed income. 'It almost became like a game. Like, can I do this and could I take a pay cut and live comfortably?' When she moved to Minden in 2016 she had already dipped her toes in real estate with four properties under her belt. She felt an immediate connection to the town upon arrival, seeing its potential for transformation and decided to pursue her lifelong dream of restoring an old home. After nearly a year of searching, she stumbled upon a broken-down cottage located just on the edge of the Historic Residential District. 'I knew that this house was supposed to be mine,' she said, despite the vacant-look to the property, covered head to toe in Red Tip Photinia's, oak trees, azaleas, daffodils and other southern vegetation. She launched her website, documenting each wall torn down and every fixture lovingly restored. The finished product, 'Sara's Cottage', was what 'set the course' for the work she would take on in the years that followed. After Sara's Cottage, McDaniel purchased a second cottage just a few blocks away, planning to flip it. It was during this project that she gave herself the freedom to experiment, resulting in an explosion of vibrant colors and designs. The property became known as Cottage on Fort, and is now a sought-after Airbnb rental. When another property then became available - an aging set of Spanish-style apartments well past their prime - McDaniel seized the opportunity, marking the start of her journey to restore them. After that, she bought a three-story, 6,000-square-foot Queen Anne-style property called the Fuller-White House. Built in 1905, it now serves as a community gathering venue. The property's upstairs space - the Fuller House Upper Room - was then transformed into a stylish, loft-style apartment. More recently, just across the street from the stunning Fuller-White House, McDaniel purchased another home, which is set to become her first nonprofit venture in honor of her late father. McDaniel's biggest project to date is the renovation at 'The Villas at Spanish Court', which she purchased in 2021 and officially opened as a stunning, short-term rental business in 2023. The property in question was a block of eight villa-style apartments that had sat abandoned for the last 40 years. Inside, the property's condition was nothing short of disastrous - torn-up floors, caved-in ceilings and even bullet holes through the windows - but McDaniel still saw its potential. Those who learned of McDaniel's interest cautioned her against the purchase, suggesting that the only solution to save it would be to bulldoze the entire structure. Despite the warnings, McDaniel fell in love with the property and, in 2021, purchased The Villas at Spanish Court apartments for $51,306 - funded entirely by the savings she had diligently built throughout her journey. 'I just have this uncanny ability when I look at something that is blighted and nobody else wants to touch, like bullet holes in windows,' she said. 'I can just see what the after looks like in my head.' 'Honestly, I just wanted to bring it back, because everybody said it couldn't be done right. Everybody said I needed to bulldoze and start over,' McDaniel explained. Her ultimate goal for the property was to preserve as many of the original details as possible during the renovation. However, McDaniel realized she made a rookie mistake after closing the deal - she forgot to secure an environmental hazard assessment on the structure. The assessment tests for the presence of both asbestos and lead paint - hazards McDaniel soon discovered were prevalent throughout the property. 'I just got caught up in the moment and the excitement,' McDaniel explained. 'Definitely the biggest oh no moment of the project.' 'I mean real talk, I was on medication for awhile because I had so much anxiety about it, especially being $80,000 over budget thinking, is anybody going to stay after I do all of this? Is it going to be worth it?' she added. 'It was really bad, but it was real life.' Amid a time of overwhelming doubt, McDaniel received an unexpected email from a distant cousin who had lived in the property back in the 70s. In it, she referred to McDaniel as a 'kinsman redeemer', bringing the once-forgotten property back to life and, in doing so, redeeming her own story. 'When I got that email, it just washed me with a peace,' McDaniel said. 'So I just plugged forward.' She was able to secure a $46,731 loan with a 0 percent interest rate with the Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, solving the asbestos and lead paint problem. In another attempt at getting the villas up and running, McDaniel sold her Texas home for $175,354 and contributed an additional $8,000 from her various income streams to help cover renovation costs. She also secured an interim construction loan of $202,725 from a local bank, followed by a permanent mortgage of $290,710, which she used to pay off the interim loan and complete the renovation. Finally, in February 2023, The Villas at Spanish Court officially 'reopened' for business. Each villa showcases its own unique charm, featuring vibrant colors, vintage archways and other subtle yet stunning architectural details that harken back to their 1930s origins. As an extra loving touch - and a nod to the original design - McDaniel added patio chairs, string lights and solo stoves outside each villa, inviting guests to enjoy the outdoors and connect with the community during their stay. 'No two villas are the same,' McDaniel explained. 'They're all designed differently and, for the most part, seven of them are feminine and one is masculine. But that has not deterred any business for many men.' In 2024 the villas brought in $224,133 revenue from Airbnb bookings. With McDaniel's impressive collection of properties, one might assume she's reached the end of her journey - but she isn't slowing down anytime soon. 'I actually bought a building downtown, and this will be my first commercial property outside housing, if you will,' McDaniel told To follow McDaniel's real estate journey, visit her personal blog at or find her on social media under @simplysoutherncottage across all platforms.
Associated Press
20 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Fifth Third Announces Three-Year, $20M Investment in North Nashville
CINCINNATI, June 20, 2025 /3BL/ - Fifth Third (NASDAQ: FITB) and Nashville leaders announced today that North Nashville will join the Fifth Third Neighborhood Program, bringing an influx of $20 million over three years to help revitalize the community. 'Fifth Third could not be more excited to bring our innovative Neighborhood Program to North Nashville,' said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third. 'We piloted our place-based economic development program back in 2019 and rolled it out in nine neighborhoods across our footprint in 2021. We have invested nearly $255 million since that time and witnessed generational, transformative change. We're thrilled about the opportunity to apply what we've learned and help North Nashville realize similar outcomes and impact.' In partnership with Affordable Housing Resources, Inc., Pathway Lending and United Way of Greater Nashville, Fifth Third and lead technical assistance partner Enterprise Community Partners will help community members implement their economic mobility roadmap that will help advance economic mobility and financial inclusion for the residents and businesses of North Nashville. To support this work, Fifth Third is pledging a $20 million investment in traditional financial and philanthropic capital in North Nashville over the next three years, including $1 million each to Affordable Housing Resources and the United Way from the Fifth Third Foundation. 'As a long-time resident of North Nashville I welcome this investment in our neighborhoods,' said Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell. 'We've been trying to shift how we invest in North Nashville. Recently, we've taken a special budgeting process and directed hundreds of thousands of dollars into four North Nashville Council districts. Then, we put $1 million directly into a multi-year effort anchored at Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center focused on lowering blood pressure. We've started to lower electric bills through a new insulation partnership with NES. And at least $7 million in federal funding to help North Nashville continue to recover from the long-term impacts of the 2020 tornado. 'Now we will amplify those investments with a $20 million commitment from Fifth Third that will result in community development through housing preservation, small business assistance, and vacant lot activation. Community members will see the results starting later this year,' Mayor O'Connell said. Nashville's economic mobility roadmap includes several key focus areas: growing housing and homeownership, such as by developing and preserving affordable housing; investing in small businesses and community wealth-building, such as by expanding access to capital and business planning; investing in people-based programs and services, such as by supporting education-to-career pathways; and investing in infrastructure and environmental priorities, such as by addressing tornado damage and highway impacts. 'I am thrilled that North Nashville has been selected for Fifth Third's Neighborhood Program,' said David Briggs, Tennessee region president for Fifth Third Bank. 'The North Nashville community embodies both the rich history of this city and the promise and challenges of its future. This investment of financial and intellectual capital illustrates Fifth Third's commitment to ensuring that all the members of the North Nashville community can share in its growth and truly make their lives a Fifth Third Better.' Fifth Third prioritizes broadening financial access and neighborhood revitalization through its Neighborhood Program, a community development initiative launched in 2021 which creates and implements innovative place-based strategies to effect positive change in historically disinvested neighborhoods across the Bank's 11-state consumer bank footprint. The program is pioneering a new place-based approach to community development by partnering with a lead partner organization, Enterprise Community Partners, and local organizations to build ecosystems that drive real change through both financial and social investments. This collective ecosystem approach is focused on identifying solutions to key challenges in partnership with the community, with the goal of creating lasting, transformative change. The place-based concept was piloted in 2019 in Detroit's Gratiot & Seven Mile neighborhood. Two years later, the program expanded into the Neighborhood Program, adding nine additional neighborhoods in seven states. Through the Neighborhood Program, Fifth Third has directly invested nearly $255 million across the nine neighborhoods. That investment helped catalyze over $200 million in additional investment. The result: $455 million in total Fifth Third-driven investments and tangible community impact, including: ### About Fifth ThirdFifth Third is a bank that's as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we've been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it's one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation's highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust. Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol 'FITB.' Investor information and press releases can be viewed at Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC. CONTACT Amanda Nageleisen (Media Relations) [email protected] Matt Curoe (Investor Relations) [email protected] | 513-534-2345 Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Fifth Third Bancorp
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Jackson newspaper uplifts local minority-owned businesses
JACKSON, Mich. (WLNS) — A new newspaper in South Jackson is giving the spotlight to local minority-owned businesses. It's called the Southside Business Chronicle, and it's on a mission to revitalize the city. 'It feels so great to know that we are at a milestone in this work of helping the Southside become the real Southside that it could be,' said Director of Southside Summerfest Hakim Crampton. 'It's a vision that's been in place for quite some time.' The first edition of the publication was released in early June, highlighting the stories of emerging entrepreneurs and their businesses. 'It's difficult for small-based businesses who don't have the marketing money to actually get their brand out there to reconnect and build a relationship with the community,' Crampton said. A South Jackson native, Crampton says the true goal of the paper is to impact the youth. 'This is an opportunity for them to realize that the bag is a legitimate business, and that you too have a chance to secure your bag, to secure your stake in our community legitimately, opening up, launching your own business, and being featured,' Crampton said. For business owner Desmond Anderson, the opportunity means a fresh start and a chance to be a part of something special. 'You know, just coming from where we come from, being able to get the opportunity to be able to help other people out and show the things that we can do and the abilities that we have to help other people. So I mean it's actually a great feeling,' Anderson said. Crampton says the second issue of the Southside Business Chronicle will be out for early access on July 21, one week prior to the full release on Aug. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Block party takes over Chinatown for second year in a row
Dragon dancers are seen at the Van (B)loc part in Edmonton's Chinatown on June 7, 2025. (Galen McDougall / CTV News Edmonton) For the second year in a row, a block party is taking over Edmonton's Chinatown this weekend. Organizers are hoping to continue the momentum of the inaugural Van (B)loc Party last year with performers, vendors, food trucks and a broadcast of the Edmonton Oilers game. The event is one product of the community receiving nearly $1 million for revitalization and vibrancy projects over the past two years. This year, 14 projects will be funded by the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund, including Van (B)loc, the annual Togather Chinatown Arts Festival, and Lunar New Year celebration. 'I truly believe that in any community, if you have high quality products and services to offer the community, then you attract great skills and talent back into it as well. So the Van (B)loc Party is just another way to increase and enhance that ability to bring great people back into this area,' said Wilson Wong, party organizer and owner of Chinatown restaurant Van Loc. The vibrancy fund initially allocated $480,000 as a one-year commitment in 2024. Then, city council extended the program by two years. Chinatown will receive another $480,000 in 2026. Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson told CTV News Edmonton it was exciting to see the money's impact take root. 'The city can put out grants, we can invest in infrastructure, but truly it's the businesses, community members and volunteers to make these things happen. So(I'm) grateful to the organizers who have put this together,' she said on Saturday. 'There's a wonderful quotation from Gabor Mate that says, 'Safety isn't just the absence of threat, it's the presence of connection.' So as a community, we have made great strides in terms of reducing threats, reducing crime, but the next piece is really building that sense of connection. Events like this absolutely do that and we will continue to thrive from here.' The event runs until 11 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Galen McDougall
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Galesburg receives $1.2 million from EPA to address brownfields
GALESBURG, Ill. (WMBD) — A federal agency has awarded the city of Galesburg more than $1.2 million to address environmental impacts. The money comes from the Environmental Protection Agency in the form of two grants, the Assessment Grant worth $500,000 and the Cleanup Grant worth more than $713,000, Steve Gugliotta, the city's director of community development, said. 'These funds will help address the environmental impacts of historically contaminated properties, paving the way for community revitalization and economic development. The city has been notified of the awards and is now working to submit all required documentation,' he said. The two grants will be used for a few different projects, with the bulk of the cleanup grant going to remediate the old Knox Laundry site, he said. The facility, which used to sit at 57 North Kellogg Street and 332 East Ferris Street, opened in 1898 as a retail laundry store which was expanded into a multi-story dry-cleaning facility, he said. Between 2006 and 2007, the court ordered the demolition of the building after it had been vacated and condemned because of its deteriorating condition. 'Terminating the business operations and removing former structures has stopped the potential for any continuing releases of contamination into our environment,' he said. 'But until the site is fully remediated, the potential for redevelopment is very limited.' The money will help the city address remaining contamination, more specifically areas where soil has been 'impacted above saturation limits,' Gugliotta said. The Assessment Grant will be used to evaluate two different sites that have been labeled as a brownfield. 'A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant,' the EPA's website said. The first of these two brownfields is the former Broadview Hotel located at 29 Public Square, which throughout its time was home to many businesses, including a filling station which dates back to 1927, he said. The second was the former Tucker's Printing Company, located on North Cherry Street, which was recently demolished after it had a second fire in 2024, he said. The site has housed industrial buildings in the past that Gugliotta says have led to environmental concerns. With any money from these grants, they may have left over sites that will be selected by a Brownfields Inventory, which was put together in 2023 by Kansas State University's Technical Assistance to Brownfield program, as well as consultants at Terracon, he said. He said they are anticipating the project to run from Oct. 1, 2025, until Sept. 30, 2029, although that is just an estimate, and the projects may not take that much time. 'We are honored by the EPA's selection and grateful for their support in helping us turn theseunderutilized properties into assets for the community,' Gugliotta said. 'These grants will help improve environmental safety, promote redevelopment, and attract future investment to our city.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
