By Carol Kipp

The road to first-time homeownership is not always an easy one to follow. Just ask Zakiyyah Moore. The 32-year-old residential staff counselor at Elwyn Institute had been trying to buy a house for almost five years before she realized her dream. And it never would have happened, she says, without help and guidance from the West End Neighborhood House and Cornerstone West.

Moore is the first buyer to acquire a home in the Pavilion, a brand-new community of 10 affordable townhomes on the corner of 5th and DuPont Streets in Wilmington. She expects to move in next month.

The architect-designed homes are distinctive for their solid-brick construction and attractive architectural elements, details that reflect the historic neighborhood vernacular. The homes also feature off-street parking, central air-conditioning, and energy efficient windows, doors and appliances — plus extra insulation and a full-size washer and dryer. The location of the new community, in the backyard of St. Francis Hospital, is within walking distance of Little Italy’s shops, restaurants and nightlife. It is also close to public transportation and offers easy access to I-95.

“This is a true quality-of-life neighborhood,” says Joan Fultz, director of Cornerstone West. “It offers walkability to many locations, in addition to new construction within an established community.” That established community is a vibrant one, home to the Italian Festival and A Taste of Italy, and right next door to the

Greek Festival, three of Wilmington’s most popular annual events. Community pride and a very active neighborhood association characterize the area as well.

Unlike purchasing a market-rate home, buying a Pavilion townhome offers a savings of more than $4,000 in settlement costs. And the home can be purchased for a down payment as low as $1,000. With interest rates so low that they now qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records, there couldn’t be a better time to buy.

Moore had her eye on Cornerstone West and its new-construction projects from the beginning.

As a Wilmington-based community development corporation, this non-profit agency has an 11-year-long track record of revitalizing city neighborhoods, either through renovation of existing properties or new construction. It is a collaborative effort between St. Francis Hospital and West End Neighborhood House, Inc. that serves as a proactive catalyst for positive change. By increasing the rate of homeownership for low- and moderate-income families and by providing low-interest loans/grants to community residents for home improvement, Cornerstone West also has had a significant impact on property values.

As far as Moore was concerned, Cornerstone West was providing the best new-construction value in the city. Before she could achieve her goal, however, she had to clear her debts and pull up her credit rating. Two years ago, in order to save money, she even moved back in with her parents after 13 years on her own.

“We’ve tried to take the pressure off her by being her support group,” says Moore’s father, Rev. Daniel Thomas, during a tour of the just-completed townhome. “It was a struggle [to become a homeowner]; she didn’t just walk into this place.”

Part of the struggle was to become an educated buyer. Moore signed up for the First-time Homebuyer Program sponsored by Neighborhood House, one of the pre-requisites for qualifying for the special financing that would make a mortgage affordable. Qualified buyers can purchase a three-bedroom, 1.5-bath Pavilion townhome for monthly payments as low as $975.

The Pavilion townhomes have been in the planning and development stage for years, Fultz adds, time enough to research the history of the site and learn that a garden pavilion stood at 5^th and DuPont about 200 years ago. Hence the origin of the name.

For Moore, the timing was perfect. Debt free and ready to take on a mortgage, she feels well prepared and more than ready. “I wanted a brand-new house because I wanted to be the first one to live here,” she says, “and when I walk in the door for the first time as the owner, I will probably cry.”

By Taunya English

Getting kids outdoors to exercise is part of a national plan – and First Lady Michelle Obama’s mission – to combat childhood obesity. From WHYY’s Health and Science Desk, Taunya English has the story of some Wilmington residents working to make sure their kids have a place to play.

The 2nd Street Warriors are up to bat, and Calvin Brown is throwing curve balls and chatter. Pastor Brown’s church is up the street and he owns the barbershop over on 3rd. So he’s sort of partial to the 3rd Street Knights today, but says he’s rooting for all the neighborhood kids.

Wilmington City Councilman Coach Kevin Kelley consults with Team Mom Ayanna Rivera

Brown: They play a lot of Xbox 360, Playstation, nothing wrong with that. But we want to get the kids involved, I think this goes along with Michelle Obama’s plan of getting the kids back in shape.

Home field is William “Judy” Johnson Park, named for Delaware’s Negro League third baseman.

On this Saturday morning, the baseball diamond is freshly chalked for the first game of the newly formed Westside Youth League.

Brown: A lot of these kids they don’t play nothing anymore, and we’ve made ‘em like TV athletes, which there’s no physical benefit for that.

To help children become more physically active, officials across the country are sizing up their neighborhoods. Health experts call it assessing “the built environment.”

Calistro: When you are in that community do you see healthy activities going on?

Paul Calistro leads the local neighborhood center, West End Neighborhood House.

Calistro: Some neighborhoods you see people jogging, rollerblading. People out walking their dogs? Do you see people pushing their strollers? It’s not happening on what I would refer to as our southern boundaries — from 4th Street to Lancaster, you see less of it.

That’s the Westside’s Hilltop area. Part of the problem is a shortage of open space.

Calistro says the average for an urban area like Wilmington is six acres of open space for every 1,000 people. The Hilltop neighborhood has about half an acre for every 1,000 people. Said differently, about a third of an acre for every 700 kids.

Calistro: Your home might be on a third of an acre. Imagine all 700 kids in the neighborhood trying to play on your one-third of an acre every day. Doesn’t work.

Civic leaders are mulling ways to give kids more places to be active. The new baseball league is part of the plan to make sure kids can play in the parks Wilmington has now.

Sherry McLean has lived across from Judy Johnson Park for more than 20 years.

Willauer: Some of the green space or outdoor space for playing that does exist isn’t safe or is not perceived as safe, so people don’t want to use it.

Affordable housing expert Christian Willauer says Westside kids spend a lot of their time indoors. Even the community center has a gym but no playground.

Willauer: Places where people can go out and have that kind of free play that everybody talks about being really important for children and for kind of developing skills in imagination, people just don’t have a place to go and do that, to really run and play.

Judy Johnson Park is Hilltop’s largest patch of green. But neighbor Frank Robinson says for a long time people haven’t trusted the park.

Robinson: Well, if you came here three years ago, you’d be diving over this table, for one, because somebody would have been done shot at somebody, and you’d see about 40, 50 people standing around here selling drugs and stuff.

Robinson is president of the West Side Community Action Committee.

Robinson: What happens is, first, you have to go up against a lot of drug dealers and not back down. The neighborhood decided to take a stand. Just cuz they’re a gang, so are we, only we’re a neighborhood gang.

Neighbors got city council to change the look of the park. When you’re rehabbing a park, perception is half the battle.

Sherry McLean lives in one of the row homes that watch over the park. She says the new bid to get kids – and their parents — to come out and play is actually an old idea.

In the early 70s, McLean pitched for her neighborhood softball team, the Liberettes.

Eleven-year-old Tatiyana Rivera tripled in the first game of the season.

McLean: And it used to draw the crowd because it was people up here that lived on the hill, and they would come out and support us. The men would, the women would, their friends. It used to be cool.

Twenty-three-year-old Stevenson Alexander is one of the young men who hangs out at the park. He’s at the sliding board with his 2-year-old twins Uriah and Aaliyah.

Alexander: To me it’s a good park. I just know we had one incident, they said somebody got shot over here, but beside that it’s been a good park. We come in here, Saturdays, Sundays, we play some basketball, relax and chill, that’s about it.

Back at the baseball diamond, Tatiyana thinks she’s a little too old to play. But Team Mom Ayanna Rivera — who happens to be Tatiyana’s real mom – put the 12-year-old in the line up anyway.

Ayanna Rivera: I’m gonna push her to stay on the team, they’ve got to be in something. Stay focused. It’s everybody’s beginning, and everyone needs a chance. They can do it.

Once the coaches figure out that Tatiyana is a lefty and move her to the other side of the batter’s box, her swing improves.

Tatiyana Rivera: I’m not really good at batting, but it turned out differently. I hit it far, and I got to third base.

The next match up between the 3rd Street Knights and 2nd Street Warriors is Thursday evening at six in Judy Johnson Park.

Wilmington, July 13, 2010 – Just one year ago, the corner of 5^th and DuPont streets in Wilmington’s historic Little Italy neighborhood was a blighted, empty city lot. Today, three brand new brick façade townhomes adorn the once empty corner – bringing one woman’s dream of affordable homeownership to life and encouraging many others to consider affordable city-living in Wilmington’s tight-knit West Side community.

“The Pavilion is exactly what I was looking for in a house and in a community,” said Zakiyyah Moore, a Pavilion owner and first-time homebuyer. “I wouldn’t have been able to buy a home without Cornerstone’s assistance. I’m so grateful to them, and everyone else, who helped me on my journey to homeownership.”

Approximately 150 neighbors, supporters and interested homeowners joined Cornerstone West on Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of the Pavilion townhomes with a tour of a fully furnished energy-efficient three bedroom model Pavilion house. Guests also learned more about Cornerstone West, the surrounding neighborhood, and purchasing a pre-built or made to order 1.5 or 2.5 bath Pavilion home complete with off-street parking, an energy efficient design and central air conditioning.

Many prospective buyers said the price – monthly payments of just $975.00 for qualified buyers – low down payment fee of $1,000.00 and historic 3.85% interest rate were huge advantages to purchasing a home in the Pavilion, which will consist of 10 townhomes once complete. However, many interested homeowners were also drawn to the homes because they are enthusiastic about affordable city-living in a centralized location near shops, restaurants, and nightlife.

“Living in this community has so many advantages,” said Joan Fultz, director of Cornerstone West. “Many buyers are looking for a home that offers walkability; the Pavilion is perfect because it offers new construction within an established community containing shops, restaurants and parks.”

Fultz says that city and state government departments, including the City of Wilmington, Delaware State Housing Authority, Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Wilmington Housing Partnership, are also focused on creating livable, walkable neighborhoods and helped bring the Pavilion to life by collaborating with Cornerstone West.

The completion of the Pavilion townhomes will mark $35 million worth of community development on the West Side – including 88 renovated and sold homes, 83 mixed-income rental units and 94 home and façade improvements – over the last 10 years.

About Cornerstone West:

Created in 1999 from a collaborative partnership between West End, St. Francis Hospital and the community, Cornerstone West has created a total of 338 affordable housing opportunities and home improvements in the Wilmington area since their inception, investing over $55 million into the Wilmington community.  For more information, visit www.cornerstonewest.org.

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By Mike Chalmers

One day when Lorri Moxey was 13, her mother told her she needed a yearlong break from her kids.

“When I walked into the house, all my stuff was packed and there was a van parked outside,” said Moxey, now 20.

“I didn’t know what foster care was,” she said. “I didn’t know where I was going. By the age of 14, I knew she wasn’t coming back. She doesn’t want to be a mother.”

Like many teenagers who enter Delaware’s foster care system, Moxey was not adopted and never went back to her family. She “aged out” of the system when she finished high school last summer at age 19. Most leave when they turn 18.

Moxey got lucky, though. One of her former foster mothers took her in until she could get on her feet. But others struggle with the transition to adulthood and may end up homeless, in jail or addicted to drugs, experts said.

With the number of teenagers aging out of the system nearly doubling in the past decade, Delaware is about to make big changes to help them line up a home, a job, an education and the little things that new adults need to go out on their own.

“When I turned 18, I still needed help from my family,” said Vivian L. Rapposelli, secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.

“You don’t turn a switch and you’re automatically emotionally, mentally, socially able to cope with adult issues, especially this population,” she said.

In Delaware, the number of youth aging out grew from 51 in fiscal year 2000 to 94 in fiscal year 2010, state figures show. The number peaked at 108 in 2009.

The state is now caring for 104 youth ages 17 or 18, said Felicia Kellum, manager of independent living programs for the Delaware Division of Family Services.

Nationwide, the number aging out increased 46 percent, from 20,172 in fiscal year 2000 to 29,516 in fiscal year 2008, the most recent year for which national figures are available, according to the federal Administration for Children and Families.

Most entered the system as teenagers, often bringing with them more mental, emotional or social troubles than younger children, experts said. Added to that mix are a typical teenager’s insecurity and rebellion.

“They’re feeling a sense of abandonment overlaying all the normal teen issues,” said DFS Director Laura Miles. “Everything that comes with being a teenager presents itself.”

Over the past year, several state agencies have focused on the needs of Moxey and about 30 other youth who have recently left or will soon leave foster care. Officials then designed programs and changed policies to address those needs, hoping the efforts will help all foster youth.

The child-welfare department is working with the departments of Labor, Education, Correction and Health and Social Services, as well as the Delaware State Housing Authority and several nonprofit groups, Rapposelli said.

Among the expected changes:

• Senate Bill 113, which lets Family Court stay involved with former foster youth until age 21, is scheduled to be signed by Gov. Jack Markell today.

• Thirty subsidized housing vouchers have been designated for former foster youth to help them find homes.

• Foster youth can now apply for a housing voucher at age 16, instead of 18, because the waiting list can be almost two years long.

• Volunteer mentors are helping current and former foster youth learn skills such as how to write a résumé, interview for a job and manage their money.

• Delaware State University is providing year-round housing for two former foster youth this fall.

One of them is 21-year-old Christella St. Juste, who entered foster care in 2005 because of trouble with her parents. She wants to become a civil rights lawyer.

“Some kids at 18 might think they’re grown, but you still have a child’s mind at that point,” said St. Juste, who works at McDonald’s and is living with her former foster mother in Blades.

“Living on your own would have been hard,” she said. “Sometimes I’m shocked that I’ve made it this far.”

Illinois allows youth to stay in foster care until age 21, so more of them go to college than their counterparts in other states, said Amy Dworsky, a senior researcher at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, which studies child welfare issues.

Illinois is one of several states that go beyond what Delaware has done to help foster care youth after they turn 18, she said.

Others require child-welfare agencies to develop detailed plans for employment, education, housing and other needs.

More states have passed such “extended jurisdiction” laws recently to take advantage of Fostering Connections, a new federal law that reimburses states for a portion of youths’ care, she said.

Delaware’s pending law, S.B. 113, has a narrower focus than other states’ measures and would not apply to every youth leaving foster care, said Delaware Child Advocate Tania Culley. It would let former foster youth ask Family Court for help getting into a job training or support program, she said.

“It’s a start,” Culley said. “It’s really going to be an education for all of us, using the courts to ‘encourage’ all of us to work together.”

West End Neighborhood House, a Wilmington-based nonprofit social service agency, also is expanding its services for former foster youth.

The group is expanding its Life Lines program, which has provided homes for 204 former foster youth since it began in 2001, said program director Hayley Schmittinger.

West End can serve 56 youth at a time and has plans to add at least 10 more spaces soon, she said.

Moxey, who has a voucher for subsidized housing, is searching for a home in Sussex County. She works at Stockley Center in Georgetown and Spencer House in Milford, helping to dress and feed people with mental and physical disabilities.

Moxey said other youth leaving foster care need a lot of help and support to make it.

But they also need someone to tell them it’s possible, she said.

“A lot of times, foster kids get discouraged,” Moxey said. “They need to stop being so mad at the world because of what their parents did to them. They need to hear they can do it.”

For more information, go to cornerstonewest.org
Start Time: 12:30
Date: 2010-07-13
End Time: 19:00