Allen Blickley receives Beautiful Battle Creek Award for beautifying lot where blighted house once stood

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –Allen Blickley was honored in December by his local Neighborhood Planning Council and the City of Battle Creek with a Beautiful Battle Creek Award for sprucing up a lot where a blighted house once stood. The property, at 92 N. Wabash Ave., was owned by the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority, which demolished the house in 2018 and sold the empty lot to Blickley as part of its Side Lot Sale program.

“I am humbled and honored to receive the Beautiful Battle Creek Award and want to thank the Neighborhood Planning Council and City of Battle Creek for the recognition,” Blickley said. “I also want to thank the staff at the Land Bank for their patience and dedication to find funding for the demolition. I especially want to thank Angela Whitesell personally for talking with me regularly through the whole process; she was always patient and kind.”

Blickley, a Vietnam War veteran, and his wife, Katharine, have built a garage, planted evergreens along the property line and installed a flag pole.

“Mr. Blickley should be proud of the work he has done at 92 N. Wabash and deserves this recognition from the City of Battle Creek, and the Land Bank is proud to have contributed to the outcome,” said Krista Trout-Edwards, executive director of the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority. “Our Side Lot Sale program is a great way for Calhoun County residents to add on to their property, like Mr. Blickley did, or to beautify their neighborhood, by turning an empty lot into a community garden. Getting side lots back on the tax rolls helps fund local schools and critical services like roads, public safety and programs for seniors and veterans.”

View available side lots for sale in Calhoun County.

92 N. Wabash prior to demoltion. Photo courtesy Calhoun County Land Bank Authority.

92  N. Wabash after demoltion. Photo courtesy Calhoun County Land Bank Authority.

Mr Blickley’s garage during construction. Photo courtesy Calhoun County Land Bank Authority.

Mr. Blickley’s finished garage. Photo courtesy Calhoun County Land Bank Authority.

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