Habitat for Humanity organizing neighborhood revitalization effort
By Robert Cloud
Habitat for Humanity plans to “Rock the Block” in New London on Sept. 16-18.
The program hopes to refurbish and repair about 25 homes in the Old Fifth Ward, a neighborhood located between Krostone Park and Shawano Street, north of the Wolf River.
Amy McGowan, with Habitat for Humanity, explained Rock the Block to the New London Economic Development Committee when it met on April 27.
McGowan said Rock the Block targets a single neighborhood and works to ensure people have safe and decent homes.
Rock the Block identifies neighborhoods, partners with residents, community supporters and municipalities, raises funds and recruits volunteers to spend three days working on home maintenance and repair.
The work includes exterior repairs, siding, doors and windows, roof repair or replacement, lead paint abatement, landscaping, porches and concrete repair.
“Things that allow people to stay inside their homes,” McGowan said.
The goal in New London is to repair the exteriors of 20 to 30 homes, build or rehab two to three homes and do major, critical repairs to five to six homes.
Launched in 2015 in the Fox Valley, Rock the Block has spearheaded projects in 14 neighborhoods, completed 474 projects, repaired 277 homes, restored 10 blighted buildings and built 19 new homes, McGowan said.
Need and impact
McGowan said New London has a poverty rate of 10.87%.
The median household income in New London is $48,379 and the median home value is $133,300.
The average age of a New London home is 42 years and the average monthly rent is $680.
New London has 3,126 households and 6,783 residents.
Rebuilding a neighborhood impacts home values, inspires community pride among local residents and discourages crime.
In Menasha, where Rock the Block renovated and built 100 homes in 2019, police reported a 32% drop in reports of burglaries, 23% decrease in theft and 50% fewer robberies.
“Neighbors are watching out for each other,” McGowan said.
Over the next month, a construction team will visit the neighborhood.
City Manager Chad Hoerth said New London’s Planning Commission voted to waive all construction fees for the Rock the Block project.