Winston-Salem State University News April 1, 2015 Atkins CDC Receives Nearly $100,000 from Sale of Property The S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation (CDC) has received $99,267 from the sale of the 254-unit James A. Dobson Apartments in Rochester, N.Y. The I.C. Housing Development Fund Co., Inc. and the James A. Dobson family recently announced the distribution of nearly $900,000 to 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along with six service agencies in the Rochester area. The late Mr. Dobson was a native of Winston-Salem. The apartments named for him were built to provide affordable housing for the city's low-to-moderate income elderly, individuals and families. "It is only appropriate that these funds assist our CDC's efforts to provide affordable housing since Mr. Dobson held a lifelong commitment to providing quality, affordable housing in his community," said Carol Davis, executive director of the Atkins CDC. "This gift also will provide tremendous support to the HBCUs that are benefiting from the generosity of a family whose members are alumni of a HBCU." "The Atkins CDC will use our portion of the donation to assist with development costs as we implement a plan to help families in our community who are struggling to find quality housing that they can afford," Davis added. "By meeting their needs for permanent housing, we are also stabilizing a neighborhood and building value in the city's real estate market." The CDC's initial development goal for this project is to acquire vacant and foreclosed property between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and U.S. 52, demolish them and then rebuild 20 single-family homes over three years. The timing for the project also coincides with increased potential in the area due to the new Salem Creek Connector, the expanding Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, and added quality education options ranging from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' Career Center to Winston-Salem State University. The homes will include three and four bedroom designs with energy efficient heating and cooling. The Center for Homeownership will provide pre-purchase homeownership counseling and grant funds will provide financial assistance for qualified buyers. "The project is a collaboration with the city of Winston-Salem, Wells Fargo, Tammy Watson of Wilkinson ERA Realty and now the Dobson family," Davis added. "Working together, we can improve the home ownership rate and increase property values in the neighborhood." The Atkins CDC is a partner agency of Winston-Salem State University. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.