HU RECEIVES GRANT TO REVITALIZE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS

Hampton, Va.-Hampton University's Department of Architecture recently received a $301,505 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to rejuvenate distressed neighborhoods near the campus by expanding their role and effectiveness in neighborhood revitalization, housing and economic development.

Hampton University was selected as one of 22 historically black colleges that will receive a portion of a $10.7 million grant from the Bush Administration. The funds are for projects designed primarily to benefit low-and moderate-income residents, help prevent or eliminate dilapidated communities. The grants can be used for activities such as: acquiring real estate; demolition; home ownership assistance to low- and moderate-economic development activities; and rehabilitation of residential, commercial or industrial buildings to correct code violations.

"We have a history of being successful in working in these kinds of programs," assistant architecture professor Theodore Sawruk said. "Our faculty and students use our expertise to support neighboring communities in need and to raise awareness to issues that lead to community activism and maybe even rezoning."

The architecture department received $220, 000 in January 2001 from HUD for students to work on two projects: an educational outreach program and a neighborhood revitalization program that involved communities in the City of Hampton and within the Newton and Greater Wythe neighborhoods. Sawruk said this new grant is a continuation of the efforts that were explored previously and may also include additional research and educational outreach programs such as fair housing, handicap accessible housing and summer programs involving architecture.

HU's architecture department has won numerous awards and received recognition for its urban revitalization efforts, especially for the work with the Kecoughtan Road commercial corridor in Hampton.

HUD's HBCU program is one of several initiatives administered by its Office of University Partnerships (OUP). Established in 1994, OUP is a catalyst for partnering colleges and universities with their communities in a shared search for answers to pressing urban problems.