The Zilber Family Foundation is investing close to $800,000 in the continuous effort to revitalize and beautify area neighborhoods, according to an announcement made by its board of directors on Tuesday.
The foundation’s funding is broken down into two grants that will support a broader strategy to improve housing conditions in Milwaukee’s Clarke Square and Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods and advance a commercial development project on North Avenue in Lindsay Heights.
“The physical conditions in neighborhoods have a demonstrated impact on factors such as social relationships, health outcomes, safety, and child development,” said Susan Lloyd, executive director of the Zilber Family Foundation. “Investments in developing and preserving homes and buildings will have far reaching positive effects on the quality of life in neighborhoods.”
One of the grants, totaling $299,000, will be distributed to Layton Boulevard West Neighbors over two years. Grant dollars will assist the nonprofit with its home improvement strategies and will support a pool of matching grants available for homeowners needing to make exterior home repairs in the Clarke Square and Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods.
“With continued support from the Zilber Family Foundation, we will connect neighbors with resources to renovate their homes that will result in enhanced neighborhood appearance, stabilized home values, and bolstered community pride and confidence,” said Charlotte John-Gomez, executive director of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors.
A second $500,000 grant will back the Lindsay Heights commercial corridor along North Avenue. The grant, awarded to Walnut Way Conservation Corporation, will assist in phase one development of the Innovations and Wellness Commons, a project set to repurpose North Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets. Once complete, the Commons will house resources such as social services, economic development programs, job opportunities, and new businesses working to fulfill the needs of the neighborhood.
The entire commercial development project is projected to attract more than $6 million of investment. The site’s development team includes Baker Tilly, CG Schmidt, Mayer Helminiak Architects, Reinhart Boerner Van Duren s.c., and Juli Kaufmann of Fix Development.
“The Zilber grant will make a tremendous difference,” said Sharon Adams, Walnut Way’s program director.
