New homes, new hope in Vaile

Several Vaile Elementary School students selected to attend a groundbreaking ceremony last week might one day look back on it as a turning point for the surrounding neighborhood.

The children were a part of the Thursday, Nov. 20, event at 400 S. 13th St., launching the Vaile Neighborhood Housing Project just south of downtown Richmond.

Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization Intend Indiana will lead construction of 22 new homes on the Vaile neighborhood’s vacant lots.

The homes are estimated to cost about $175,000 to $185,000. They are designed for those with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income.

Intend Indiana’s partnership with Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County and Wayne County Foundation and its Forward Wayne County initiative aims to expand home ownership opportunities for local families.

Richmond Community Schools representatives also attended, showing their support for the project that could help attract families to what event speakers described as a transitional historic neighborhood, ultimately boosting school enrollment.

Wayne County Commissioner Jeff Plasterer, who attended Vaile, said county officials are excited to be part of the partnership.

“I hope you will see the new houses and take pride in your community,” Plasterer told the children.

Valerie Shaffer, EDC president, noted the many years of work leading to this project.

Blight Elimination Program efforts began across the city about a decade ago that led to some of the lots now being available for development.

“This is what collaboration looks like,” she said.

As Intend Indiana’s Chief Executive Officer Steven Meyer introduced several staff and board members on site, he said that everyone in that organization cares about making transformational changes in people’s lives.

Intend Indiana officials told the crowd they’re eager to find many local contractors to get started on the construction soon, and they welcome suggestions and self-nominations for that work. BuildSmart home construction loans are available for qualifying contractors for acquisition, equipment purchases, construction, rehabilitation, tenant improvement and working capital.

Local officials said they hope the Vaile project can be replicated for future housing development and neighborhood revitalization across Richmond and Wayne County.

“We’re just beginning,” Richmond Mayor Ron Oler said.

Support for the Vaile construction comes from a $1.12 million Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 award made possible through Lilly Endowment Inc., first reported by WWN Oct. 29. Wayne County Foundation also made a $1 million Impact Investment Loan toward Vaile improvements.

Additional speakers who were described as being instrumental in bringing the project to life included Sarah Mitchell from EDC, and Avis Stewart, Wayne County Foundation board chair. Other partners include Good News Habitat for Humanity, Richmond Power & Light and Richmond Housing Authority.

Vaile’s $1.12 million improvement is part of Wayne County’s $5.1 million award through READI 2.0. Wayne County was the only county in the East Central Indiana region to receive this funding.

Wayne County’s award also supports rehabilitation of 22 historic homes in Richmond’s nearby Starr Neighborhood and downtown revitalization across the county. The downtown efforts will focus on remediating blight, reactivating vacant and underutilized commercial buildings, creating upper-story housing units, and supporting historic preservation to spur private investment and enhance community vibrancy. Construction and redevelopment are slated to continue through 2028.