Photo Gallery
Hometown pride: Developer of senior homes in Alton Park wants to give back to her community
This is the neighborhood I grew up in. I just wanted to give something back.
A local business owner has started a senior community in the inner-city neighborhood where she once lived.
"Sometimes you need something to let people know you are doing something," says Sharon Kelly, who grew up on West 46th Street, less than two miles from the Lee Avenue senior housing community she owns.
Last month she hosted the ribbon-cutting for three new homes, marking the latest residential development in Alton Park.
These are made possible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city of Chattanooga, Lee Street Developers and Infinite Construction, says Kelly.
If all goes as anticipated, the three homes are the first of seven planned in a $450,000 development project.
Kelly expects to know by the end of the year if HUD will provide funding for the remaining houses.
The three new houses sit next to Sharon's Senior Villa, the 25-bed assisted-living facility that Kelly opened in May 2001.
"This is the neighborhood I grew up in," she says. "I just wanted to give something back."
The homes and senior villa sit on a 6.5-acre site in one of the poorest communities in the country, according to the website neighborhoodscout.com.
It's where nearly 84 percent of children live in poverty and vacant, boarded-up buildings line neighborhood streets.
It's where the median household income is $24,328, some $15,000 less than the average household in Chattanooga, according to citydata.com.
But Kelly lived in Alton Park in its glory when it was the home of teachers, businessmen and pastors, and she wants to bring it back again.
The senior community is just the beginning of new development.
A Kentucky corporation, LDG Development, has been meeting with residents and city officials about putting a $40 million apartment complex in the community. LDG plans to put the apartments on the 13-acre Frank H. Trotter School site. If they're successful, it will be the first development on the site since the school closed in the 1980s. And several city officials predict that the more residential development Alton Park gets, the better its chance of attracting commercial developments like grocery stores and banks.
The 5400 block of Lee street will be home to nearly 40 seniors if HUD approves funding for the additional four proposed houses. And having independent and assisted-living housing side by side gives seniors opportunity to age in place. The only time seniors will need to relocate is when they need intensive nursing care.
The senior community is needed, says 83-year-old Everlena Holmes, who attended the ribbon-cutting.
"When you get to be seniors, you don't want to feel like you're dependent on other people to do or make decisions for you. You need to be kept whole in some way. This enables you to do that," she says.
City Councilman Erskine Oglesby, who represents the District 7 community on the council, commends Kelly for her work in Alton Park.
"It's value added," he says.
The new handicap-accessible homes are available to seniors who earn $25,000 a year or less and are at least age 55.
Each home is 576 square feet. Utilities are included in the $444 monthly rent each resident must pay. Each home comes fully furnished with washer, dryer, reclining chairs and flat-screen TV.
"They're going to have to pay their own cable bill - I ain't doing that," Kelly says with a laugh. "But I got them a nice TV up here."
Veterans on the site who are age 65 also may qualify for assistance with bathing and dressing if they need it.
"You see my little houses. They're nice aren't they?" says Kelly as she passes another guest while giving a tour of the homes to Holmes and Oglesby.
Holmes says she's so impressed by the homes that she plans to recommend them to her friends and family.
"I admire you so much," Holmes tells Kelly as they walk through one of the houses. "This is wonderful."
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.