Plans set in place for $50 M revitalization of Mill Creek neighborhood

A series of important public meetings held over the past week were led by the City of Huntsville to address the affordable housing need and important developments around Governors Drive in Huntsville.

Through a series of three meetings, the City of Huntsville, in partnership with Urban Strategies, Inc., helped public information sessions that hoped to alleviate some of the concerns of and answer some important questions for Huntsville residents.

Urban Strategies (USI), a national nonprofit advocating for improving infrastructure in low-income neighborhoods, will be applying for a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the housing authority to revitalize Mill Creek with improved low-income housing and public amenities. 

USI aims to use the $50 M grant to leverage hundreds of millions in investments from outside entities. USI’s work in Mill Creek is centered around Johnson Towers and Butler Terrace, which provide affordable housing for senior citizens and families, respectively, but also plans on investing grant money into amenities serving the entire neighborhood, including a large park.

All units in Johnson Towers and Butler Terrace are to be replaced with units with large windows, energy efficient appliances, and most importantly, accessible architecture to accommodate those with disabilities. Around 750 units are planned to be mixed income units, which means those receiving housing assistance and those in market rate units will be sharing facilities, ensuring quality for all. 

USI would also like to enclose the creek dividing the neighborhood and collecting debris in a pike; in accordance with the flood plan, the area would then be raised by five feet before a park with walking trails is constructed on top. Mill Creek would also get updated street lighting and new sidewalks. Construction would begin by 2026 and last 8 years.

USI’s aim is to improve the lives of those in Mill Creek not only with better housing and infrastructure, but also work opportunities. Jobs and training related to construction, plumbing, etc. will be available to Mill Creek residents. 

Because the plan would cause disruption to residents of Johnson Towers and Butler Terrace, USI outlined the plan to provide those who need to relocate with the means to do so. In addition to helping them find new housing in the interim, USI plans to provide moving assistance, reimbursement for moving fees, and housing vouchers based on their qualifications at the time of relocation. According to the plan, once units are complete, all previous tenants will be invited back.  

Mill Creek residents attending the October 19 presentation at the Boys and Girls Club were enthralled with the plan. Coach Nick Jones, a physical education instructor, was excited for what neighborhood improvements could bring to local schools, helping break the cycle of generational poverty. 

“This should have been happening for 20 years,” Jones said.

He went on to say that in addition to school improvements, he’d be most excited to see new buildings and streets.

“Just give people a new sense of area ideas. Most of my friendsI grew up with have been in jail or are dead. So, it’s like even with the program that they have like in kindergarten here … we’ve got kindergarteners that come to kindergarten and can’t hold a pencil,” said Jones.

Another area resident, Gwendalyn Jackson, said she’s in a good position with her current housing as she has no children and lives in an area with low crime, but sees a lot of room for improvement, especially for senior citizens and those with disabilities. She’d like to see larger, nicer homes that are easier for people with mobility aids to use, equipped with higher toilets, railings, and support bars. 

“My neighbor, she had a stroke, so she is in a wheelchair. She doesn’t have that much space in her home or to go to the bathroom, you know what I’m saying? If I was in a wheelchair, I would need space” said Jackson.

USI bases its goals in Mill Creek around neighborhood feedback collected by resident ambassadors, Johnson Towers and Butler Terrace Resident Councils, and public meetings as well as survey data that includes questions of employment status, income, household size, and classroom performance. USI is still accepting feedback from the public to complete their grant application due on December 11.

For more information, please visit www.huntsvilleal.gov.