COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Any successful community development effort begins with listening and meeting people where they are. Here at Navigate, we are purposeful in making sure the actual community is central to our work. This was, and will continue to be our approach, including in North Titusville.

We made tremendous progress in 2022. Whether through fulfilling the need for housing, supporting our local school, or making a place for economic growth, the community’s expressed needs were the priority.

As we look to 2023, housing, education, and the community’s economic health will be at the center of our work. And true to our work style, “the community” will be involved every step of the way.

Live on 1st

New construction on 1st Street South added three state-of-the-art modular homes to vacant lots in 2022. Designed by architectural partner Design Initiative and factory-built by Franklin Homes, the Live on 1st development offers long-term affordability for the residents beyond rent or mortgage costs. In addition, we worked with Alabama Power Company’s (APC) SMART Neighborhood division to fill these homes with energy-efficient appliances and lighting that can help save the residents up to $900 a year on energy costs. In a December interview with WBHM, one resident noted, “her power bill has never been more than $80 a month.”

APC and their partner Chorus SmartSecure also added intelligent features that keep our families connected and safe, including a smart doorbell and thermostat.

In May, residents moved into the homes under a lease-to-own agreement to eventually become homeowners. Our partnerships with the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama and Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham provided housing counseling services to the families to support this pathway to homeownership. We look forward to all three families achieving homeownership.

5th Court Cottages | Housing Preservation

Navigate not only prioritizes building new homes. We also work to preserve existing housing in the North Titusville community. Along 5th Court South, our Community Development team spent eight months renovating 11 homes and one duplex, in poor condition, with no water or heat, alongside other health and safety issues.

Our priority during renovations was ensuring the families had safe and clean housing. So, we provided temporary housing while the renovations were taking place.

In July, residents moved back, and they were thrilled with the transformations. One exclaimed, “It doesn’t even look like the same place! Thank you so much.” In 2023, we look forward to renovating three additional units around 5th Court South and beginning work on a new home at 55 5th Court.

A look at 17 5th Court South before renovations.

17 5th Court South after renovations.

Economic Revitalization

Revitalizing communities requires not only investing in housing but supporting economic development. We’ve done this by bringing programs to Marc Steel, the historic site of a former steel foundry. In line with this, Navigate acquired the former Leonard’s BBQ & Burger Hut on 6th Avenue South.

Returning the historic site into service reduces blight in the neighborhood and helps support small businesses while creating new options for the people of Titusville.