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At Home On Laura Street

story. Tampa Tribune staff photo/Greg Fight.

Quetsy Stanley, center, and he three children Gemma, 4, Michael, 7, and Anthony, 6, left to right, sit on the front porch of their home in Laura St. Estates. Her home was made available through Plant City Community Development Corp.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

Updated: 02/21/2008 04:35 pm

Additional Photos

PLANT CITY - The revitalization in the Lincoln Park area should reach new heights in 2008.

The completion of five affordable homes in the Laura Street area and the recent groundbreaking for six more, plus improvements by city government, are helping revive a neighborhood that not long ago was considered to be a blight on the community, officials said.

The nonprofit Plant City Community Development Corp., in cooperation with the city and five area churches, opened the five-house enclave, Laura Street Estates, late last year, with construction on a new phase starting soon. The corporation helps make the American dream of homeownership come true for low-income families.

John Thomas, who lives nearby, is glad to see the new homes in his neighborhood.

"We have needed improvement in this area for years," said Thomas, who has lived in and around Plant City since 1947. "Most people around here haven't had an opportunity to own a home. Too many people had to rent worn down homes from absent landlords that didn't do much more than collect the rent. I see a big difference down here now. But they still have a long way to go."

The city has made a number of improvements in the community in recent months, including work at Marie B. Ellis Park and Samuel W. Cooper lake and park. Another $1 million in improvements are being eyed for Laura Street, said Jim McDaniel, the city community development director. Laura Street is in the heart of Lincoln Park, a community bounded roughly by Collins Street on the west, Park Road on the east, the CSX railroad tracks on the north and Alsobrook Street on the south.

City plans include widening, sidewalks and improved streetscaping on Laura between Lake and Warnell streets, he said. McDaniel said the city has $400,000 earmarked for the project and is looking for another $600,000.

The work will complement Laura Street Estates, where new homeowner Troy McDowell said he is delighted to be a part of the neighborhood.

"I've lived in Tampa for the last 15 years," said McDowell, a Rochester, N.Y., native. "But I have worked in Plant City for 10 years. Now I'm only five minutes away from my job. I love it."

McDowell, a barber at KNAT's Barber Shop on Evers Street, said he loves the three-bedroom, two-bath home with a two-car garage he moved into in December.

"I got to pick the lot and the design of the house from several choices offered. The neighborhood is quiet. The neighbors are great, and it is one of the best things I could have done for myself."

The Plant City Community Development Corp. was founded five years ago through the efforts of Allen Chapel A.M.E., Bethel Baptist Church, God is Love Ministries, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church and Mount Olive Baptist Church, acting-corporation director Diane Martin-Johnson said. Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union and city and county affordable housing departments contributed to the early success, she said.

The corporation obtains home lots through private donations and from city government. Each adult member of the household must contribute 300 hours of labor during construction.

"This helps keep down the cost of the home for those families and helps them feel part of the neighborhood and community," Martin-Johnson said.

Mortgages average $75,000.

Rosemary and Axel Santiago moved into their new home in Laura Street Estates in November.

Axel Santiago works as a truck driver in Tampa with Conway Trucking. He said they looked for affordable housing online and found out about the Plant City project through a bank they had contacted.

"We eventually filled out an application and are very proud to be living in our own home," he said.

The Santiagos moved to Florida from New York. After Sept. 11, 2001, they decided to get away from the Big Apple. They share their home with their children, Damian, 3, Jolie, 2, and Joey, 1.

Across Laura Street from the Santiagos lives their cousin Quetsy Stanley, her husband, Michael, who is a medical field technician in Tampa, and their children, Barbie, 17, Michael, 7, Anthony, 6, and Gemma, 4.

"I've never owned a home before so this is very exciting," Quetsy Stanley said. "There is a lot for us to do, inside and outside the home, but we are very happy."

Another family, Anthony and Tessie Holmes Thompson and their children, son Couvacaty, 4, and daughter Antasha, 3, moved into Laura Street Estates at the end of last year. Tessie Thompson said her aunt Tiny Jones helped with the down payment and provided emotional support.

"We all thank God for all his blessings," Tessie Thompson said.

Martin-Johnson said the development corporation could use more help to continue its efforts to build up the community.

"We are looking for businesses and employers who may want to partner with us to help their employees who are first-time home buyers," she said. "We are also looking for available land upon which to build future homes."

MAKING THE DREAM COME TRUE

The Plant City Community Development Corp. is seeking the help of businesses, corporations and others who may want to donate time, building materials, land or cash. The nonprofit's office is at 713 E. Alsobrook St. For information, call (813) 659-3100.

Families interested in help should also contact the corporation's office. Applicants must meet income guidelines and cannot have owned land or a home in the past three years.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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