A Remarkable Renaissance

Published: 10/19/2009 9:44:00 AM

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since KCDC joined with civic and community leaders to work on revitalizing the Mechanicsville community.

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since KCDC joined with civic, government and community leaders to work on revitalizing the Mechanicsville community.

A recent anniversary celebration ceremony confirmed that it has, indeed, been a decade since the revitalization began.

The past 10 years have been good ones for Mechanicsville, and the transformation of this community is certainly worth celebrating.

Mechanicsville is the former site of the College Homes 320 barracks-style apartments located on 14.5 acres. There were 14 units per acre average community 5-6 unit per acre; it was an area with a dense population and an accompanying high rate of crime.

Today, Mechanicsville is completely changed, and that change is good. There are only five units per acre - single-family homes and duplexes in Victorian, Crafstman and Neo-classic styles.

It is a mixed income community consisting of renters and homeowners. I’m proud to report that despite today’s economy better than 90 percent of the folks who have purchased homes are still homeowners today. That’s a lot better than the national average.

The changes have also reaped other rewards. Crime is down 75 percent, our schools are off the troubled list, and residents have a lot of neighborhood pride.

We’re not going to rest on our laurels, however. Inspired by the success in Mechanicsville, we are now working to bring Hope VI to our Walter P. Taylor neighborhood. Stay tuned for more good news.


KCDC’s mission is to improve and transform neighborhoods and communities by providing quality affordable housing, advancing development initiatives and fostering self-sufficiency. For more information, call (865) 403-1100 or visit http://www.kcdc.org.