Grant to Fund Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan Initiatives
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 23, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Fort Worth Housing Solutions (FWHS) and the City of Fort Worth with a coveted $35 million Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Implementation Grant to fund transformational revitalization projects in the Stop Six Neighborhood.
Architects’ rendering of the mixed-use, mixed-income development planned for East Rosedale Street and Amanda Avenue
The $35 million federal investment is anticipated to generate nearly $345 million in development and improvements in the Stop Six Neighborhood. For eight years, Stop Six residents, FWHS and the City have worked together to methodically plan the large-scale revitalization of the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood. The resulting Transformation Plan captures a shared vision for the area: to create a vibrant, sustainable community with the attributes – education, healthcare, safety, services, and amenities – of a “neighborhood of choice.”
“I’m thrilled to receive this wonderful news, because Stop Six is such a special neighborhood, located right in the heart of our city, with a distinctive and vibrant history worth preserving,” said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. “Over the years, we’ve had hundreds of residents and stakeholders share their dreams for Stop Six, and with this grant from HUD, our coalition of partners can start the work to begin to realize those dreams. This proves, once again, that when Fort Worth works together, we will accomplish great things.”
“Winning the Choice Neighborhood Initiative grant is a game-changer that will transform the face of Stop Six and the entire Southeast Fort Worth area,” said Councilwoman Gyna Bivens. “This grant allows Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the City of Fort Worth to jointly focus beyond simply replacing housing units after Cavile is demolished, to also focus on those things that provide a sense of neighborhood, such as schools, community policing, faith institutions and commercial development like a grocery store.”
“Today’s award would not have been possible without the hard work and contributions of the residents, the community, and our more than 40 public and private sector partners,” added Mary-Margaret Lemons, FWHS President. “These funds will further our collective vision to transform Stop Six into a mixed-income, mixed-use, sustainable neighborhood that will provide quality affordable housing for all income levels.”
The Stop Six Transformation Plan features: the replacement of 300 existing public housing units at Cavile Place with 990 mixed-income rental units in six phases of housing development; the construction of a Neighborhood Hub with co-located recreational, educational, health and safety services; and the provision of case management and educational, health and economic mobility supportive services for Cavile residents.
The Stop Six Transformation Initiative includes an experienced and committed team that consists of FWHS and co-applicant, The City of Fort Worth, along with McCormack Baron Salazar (MBS), Urban Strategies, and the Fort Worth ISD. CVR Associates provided Choice Neighborhood consulting services.
Community partners for the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant application included: AB Christian Learning Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County, Brighter Outlook, Camp Fire First Texas, Catholic Charities Fort Worth, Center for Transforming Lives, Childcare Associates, Chua Huong Dao, Clayton Youth Services, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Early Learning Alliance, EnVision Center, Fort Worth Bike Sharing, Fort Worth ISD, Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, Healthy Tarrant County Collaborative, IDEA Public Schools, John Peter Smith Clinic, MBS Urban Initiatives CDE, Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County, The Morris Foundation, My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, One Safe Place, Pathfinders, Paul Quinn College, Read Fort Worth, Reading Partners, Tarrant County College, Texas Wesleyan College, U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corp., United Way of Tarrant County, University of North Texas – Center for Health Sciences, Urban Theory, Urban Village Family Services, Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County, and YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth.
HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is a landmark program that promotes a comprehensive approach to support locally driven strategies for neighborhood revitalization. The program helps communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing severely distressed public housing and catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including vacant property, housing, businesses, services and schools.
Only three other communities received a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation award this year, including Los Angeles ($35 million), Winston-Salem ($30 million), and Philadelphia ($30 million).
Click here to view the full plan.
Media contact: Kristin Sullivan, ksullivan@fwhs.org, w 817-333-3405
