On February 16, HUD's Birmingham Field Office Director, Cindy Yarbrough and Single Family Housing Specialist, Carol Nix joined Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Birmingham, Inc. Executive Director, Sherrill Hampton, City of Birmingham Community Development Director, Jim Fenstermaker, West End Neighborhood Association President, Keith Aarons, as well as residents of the community and community leaders to celebrate the completion of five homes in the third phase of a community revitalization effort for the area.

Cindy Yarbrough, Field Office Director and Sherrill Hampton, Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc. Director, provide comments during open house ceremony for Princeton Villa - Phase III.

NHS received $650,000 in HOME funds from the City of Birmingham to assist in the development of these units of housing, and contributed $100,000 in matching funds to undertake the development of five single family homes in the Arlington/West End community. A portion of the HOME funds will be used to write down the cost of the housing for eligible low to moderate-income purchasers. The balance of the funds will be returned to the City of Birmingham for future housing development as the homes in this development are sold to eligible families.

NHS of Birmingham, Inc. expressed appreciation to the City of Birmingham and to HUD for the funding to undertake the project. Birmingham Field Office Director, Cindy Yarbrough noted that it was more than funding that made the project successful, pointing out the hard work of the development team, the contractors and the realtor that would all be a part of the projects ultimate success.

Open House participants tour one of the five homes developed by NHS for low-income residents of the Arlington/West End community.

West End Neighborhood Association President, Keith Aarons talked about the impact of new housing on the community during his remarks at the grand opening. He noted that the five houses that were being recognized in this ceremony would have the impact of encouraging other homeowners in the area to make improvements to their homes as well. Ms. Jennifer Fridley, Sales Manager for the Tutwiler Hotel noted in her remarks that the historic Birmingham hotel was pleased to make a small contribution to a project that would touch the lives of needy citizens in such a personal way. The Tutwiler Hotel donated furnishings for the homes in this project.

Princeton Villa-Phase III homes for homeownership.

The development team for this project included:

Architect - Adams Design Associates (L. Paul Roderick, AIA)
Contractor - All Services Contractors, LLC (Quenton Jones, Managing Partner)
Construction Management - Development Services, Inc. (Terry Mount)
Realtor - Barnes and Associates, P.C. Realtors (Mary E. Cottrell)

NHS of Birmingham, Inc. is a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency