Promoting Synergy in Washington Heights
As of this writing, the CCLBA owns over 250 properties in the Washington Heights Neighborhood (WHN); we are a neighbor, property owner, and a vested community partner. As Battle Creek’s largest neighborhood at almost 2,500 square miles, the WHN is also known as Neighborhood Planning Council 2 (NPC2). The CCLBA has worked continuously here since 2007. The following examples showcase positive synergies the Land Bank has fostered over the years:
- The current Sunlight Gardens urban farm evolved from a leasing relationship between Sprout Urban Farms and the CCLBA in 2012.
- The Neighborhood Mow & Maintenance program originated in the WHN in 2015 and was an invaluable program for relationship building before the pandemic.
- Additionally, 153 blight elimination demolitions, 16 Transform This Home (TTH) projects, 3 Habitat for Humanity partnership rehabilitation projects, and one Rock the Block cleanup with Habitat for Humanity and several other groups.
| Project | Type | Parcels w/i 500’ | Per property value increase w/i 500’ |
| 107 Greenwood | TTH | 68 | $2,505 |
| 111 Greenwood | TTH | 68 | $2,488 |
| 73 Greenwood | Demo | 68 | $1,468 |
| 86 Greenwood | Demo | 70 | $1,379 |
| 96 Greenwood | Demo | 69 | $1,140 |
| 116 Greenwood | Demo | 66 | $1,438 |
| 128 Greenwood | Demo | 72 | $1,436 |
Our work has never stood alone as we have sought to be aware and coordinate with local initiatives. The impact of these synergies is track-able now through data collected by the City of Battle Creek. The chart examines the significance of Land Bank investment on just one block, which includes a mix of grant funded demolitions and private investment through Transform This Home (TTH). Click here for more information on current activities and exciting synergies happening in this neighborhood.
