Residents revitalize Guadalupe

By Maria Garciaz
Published: Monday, May 22, 2006 8:32 p.m. MDT
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I step out onto the front porch and enjoy the early morning air. I smell the baking of Cutie Pies bakery just around the corner. I take in the quiet morning, knowing that within the hour, my children will wake and 600 West in the Guadalupe neighborhood will be busy with neighbors leaving for work. I spy a few weeds in my flower bed, and as I walk over to battle with the gangly creatures, I see construction workers arriving at Hodges Development.

Salt Lake Neighborhood Housing Services, created in 1977 to revitalize blighted neighborhoods, moved to the Guadalupe neighborhood in 1995. Guadalupe was a place that people wanted to push away, a place from which they wanted to move. Many people saw it as an eyesore — an abandoned neighborhood caught between a freeway and train tracks.

I wave at my early-bird neighbor who is taking her dogs, Mazzy Star and Big Head Lola, for their morning walk. MaryAnne is a professor at the university and purchased the first home at Hodges Lane. The second home currently under construction is sold, and as I observe the workers, I think about this $3 million development and remember that in 1995 when NHS moved to Guadalupe, it was difficult to find a local builder not fearful of working in the area to build our first 12 homes on Argyle Court, so we imported a builder from Utah County.

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NHS knew this initial investment of $1.5 million would have great impact. Neighbors started to fix up their homes, and they learned that NHS built new homes and offered low-interest home improvement loans. NHS collaborated with Salt Lake City to build 12 more homes and invest another $1.7 million in Rendon Court, named after a resident activist.

House by house, block by block, neighbors saw streets improve, homes spruced up and senior citizens' homes painted. NHS hired teenagers to help build affordable housing and repair sidewalks. Residents participated in leadership training to learn organizing skills. NHS partners and volunteers have invested more than $30 million to revitalize a neighborhood once considered Salt Lake City's most blighted. Still, while bricks and mortar are instrumental, it is the people, my neighbors, who believed in our mission of rebuilding communities.

The children are off to school, their 86-year-old grandpa eats breakfast and Popi works on his computer. I grab my purse and walk across the street to the NHS office, contemplating the upcoming celebration. It is a national event: NeighborWorks Week organizes thousands of volunteers in 234 cities throughout the country to celebrate community. The residents of Guadalupe are taking part in this national event.

On June 3, everyone is invited to experience antique cars galore, horse-and-buggy tours, food and fun at Trackside, 510 W. 200 North, starting at 3 p.m.

Before entering the NHS office, I turn and admire the beautiful trees in Guadalupe Park donated by Tree Utah and planted by the Guadalupe neighbors. I take a deep breath and smile with gratitude.

Maria Garciaz is executive director of Salt Lake Neighborhood Housing Services.

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