Housing and Physical Rehabilitation

Clark and the Main south CDC recognized early that home ownership is critical to neighborhood stability. Poorly managed, multiunit housing was the cause of many problems for residents and a major contributor to blight in Main south. To overcome this challenge, the Main south CDC bought dilapidated housing, converted it into clean, safe, affordable units and then helped residents buy or rent this new housing. Clark supported this effort by offering a line of credit to the Main South CDC in the early years of development. In addition Clark offers one of the most aggressive home-buying incentive programs in the country to encourage faculty and staff to move into the neighborhood.

• Over the past 16 years, the Main south CDC has renovated more than 200 units of housing, sold 30 homes to first-time homeowners and used more than $18 million in grants and housing tax credits.
• The Main South CDC manages these units, which currently have a 90 percent occupancy rate and a waiting list of more than 100 families.
• Eighteen properties were renovated and sold to first-time homebuyers.
• Approximately 22 Clark faculty and staff bought homes in the neighborhood through the Universityıs incentive program.
• … The residence of Clarkıs president was relocated to Main South. Harrington House, located on Main Southıs historic Woodland Street, reflects Clarkıs commitment to UPP.
• Clark also purchased and rehabilitated several other properties on the perimeter of campus. These buildings have been integrated architecturally and aesthetically into the Clark campus and are used for the Universityıs educational purposes.
• A Center for Community Revitalization was established in a rehabilitated office building in Main South. The center houses the Main South CDC offices, community meeting rooms, economic and business development services, computer training for neighborhood residents, and affordable day care for neighborhood residents and Clark faculty, staff and graduate students.