The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
Monday was noisy in Cradock, but residents welcomed the din.
Several members of the neighborhood block watch came out to witness a demolition crew knocking down a Cushing Street duplex that had been known for drug sales.
About five blocks over, Bill Outten welcomed the hammering and scraping by members of the youth service organization World Changers at his Farragut Street home.
"It's a wonderful sound," said Outten, 65, a retired shipyard police officer who is now disabled.
The separate projects represent some efforts by Portsmouth and the city's housing authority to revitalize Cradock. They have worked in tandem with community and religious leaders to bring change to the neighborhood.
"Hopefully, it spurs some interest and investment from the private sector," said Kathy Warren the housing authority's development director.
The building at 44-46 Cushing St. is one of four duplexes the authority already has acquired and plans to demolish to make way for single-family homes.
Resident Karen Miller said it was a good week for Cradock as she watched the demolition with her 16-month-old son. She said she hoped the other boarded duplexes on Cushing would soon get taken down as well.
"Nobody takes care of them," Miller said. "T hey just decay, and they're not worth fixing."
Andy Barksdale, another resident, said that when he worked the neighborhood watch, he had seen people breaking into the duplex at 44-46 Cushing St. to sleep or deal drugs.
"It's getting rid of one more place that they don't have to hang out in," Barksdale said.
O n Farragut Street, Outten said he appreciated how much World Changers plan to help him and his wife, Marie, over the next week.
Plans include repainting the living room, dining room and bathroom, fixing the ceiling, painting outside trim and building a handicapped ramp that meets code specifications.
About 200 youth volunteers and their leaders will be working on 11 Cradock houses over the next week as part of the project.
"These kids are something," Outten said.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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I can't imagine!
I can't imagine! It has been so long since we drove by there, we had no idea it was in such a state. But the important thing is that things are starting to change. After all, Portsmouth wouldn't be Portsmouth without Cradock. There's a lot of history there, now it's time to bring it into the present.
sabrinar84860 - believe me,
sabrinar84860 - believe me, they would have cried if they saw what a nasty mess their old home...and most of that street...had become. It looks like Fairwood Homes did. Boarded up, broken down, not a blade of grass and trash (human and otherwise) everywhere. Most of that street should be bulldozed.
46 Cushing Street
My husband's family occupied 46 Cushing Street for many, many years (Annie Flynn and sons Harry, Charles, John, William, and Arthur). They took great pride in their home and their neighborhood, and I am sure that they would approve of the revitilization of Cradock. It was sad to learn that the old house has been torn down, but we are sure it is for the best.
We will keep the momentum going
I agree with everyone that has posted about this article. We have momentum and let's use it to our advantage. We have saved the library with the efforts of Ted Lamb and the Neighborhood Watch getting petitions and Ted speaking in front of City Council, Laura Somers our Civic League President made sure that the revitalization money for Cradock would be there for us and so the Civic League voted to put a park in the old GW Park location (remember they tried taking the money away in the last budget). Crime has dropped 45% in the first five months of this year here in Cradock while it climbed 16% everywhere else. In fact due to the efforts of the neighborhood watch and Officer Baker there were only 6 Burglaries in June. Yes things are going in the right direction and we are changing for the better. Now these wonderful kids are here helping and the local churches are starting to be involved. The best part is
What an example for others to follow!
These fine young people were working away down the block from me yesterday, and were there again early today working very hard...I hope the young people in our neighborhood who wander the streets aimlessly are taking note! Many of them live with "nana" or other relatives whom I am sure could use a little of this type of effort around the house!
Great news!
I'm delighted with all the positive news being reported about the goings-on in Cradock! Now, if we could only get an ordinance passed which specifies ALL homes sold in the neighborhood have to be owner-occupied for ten years. This is a great start!
Cushing Street.....
....couldn't the bulldozer accidentally drive all the way down Cushing Street and demolish all those row houses while he's at it?
Seriously...good start...let's not lose momentum...
Surprise
I am surprised there isn't an uproar from people who are worried about where vagrants will sleep now, or that people will have to sell drugs out in the weather.
Too little too late? Maybe I
Too little too late? Maybe I don't know. I've lived in this neighborhood and the city for almost 5 years now and while I'm ecstatic about the results the Neighborhood watch has achieved, the City Council and the Civic league still leave much to be desired. The demolition of the multi-family homes was long overdue. JMO they should all be destroyed and get owner/occupents in here rather then Section 8's.