As my first year as executive director comes to a close, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve you in 2007. This past year has been great for JACC. We have moved into a new office which provides an anchor for one of our three cluster projects; Cottage Park. We have developed a strong partnership with the Northside Home Fund and the City of Minneapolis in efforts to alleviate vacant and boarded properties within the neighborhood. Crime is down due to more police and resident involvement. As an organization we are beginning to emerge as one of the strongest neighborhood organizations in North Minneapolis.
2008 will be a year to build on our successes. The board has already begun to work on an action plan that will propel the Jordan neighborhood to new heights in the upcoming year. By your cooperation during our strategic planning process and by your votes for new board members at our annual meeting in October, we will begin to focus on organizational capacity building and fundraising.
With new leadership in place and a continued commitment to the development of the Jordan neighborhood, we will continue to be a premier neighborhood in Minneapolis. 2007 Highlights
27th & Penn
Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation has been chosen as the developer for the project. Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation was formed in 1970 and its mission is to preserve, improve and increase affordable housing for low and moderate income individuals and families, as well as assist communities with housing revitalization. GMHC is currently building a new home at 2101 Illion and has completed construction of a new home at 2018 James Avenue N.
25th & James
After a slow start, the James cluster is seeing some movement. 1818 James is under construction while the old Big Stop location is now owned by the City of Minneapolis. According to Elfric Porte, Manager of Single Family Housing Development for the City of Minneapolis Community Planning & Economic Development Department, “the property will be demolished and two single family housing units developed.” This is a great accomplishment and we thank the City of Minneapolis and the owners of the Big Stop location for working together to revitalize this important part of our neighborhood. With the acquisition and development of the old Big Stop and the probation house, we will have a strong anchor for the 25th and James cluster. We are very excited about this new development.
Cottage Park
2010 James has been purchased by our development partner Ackerberg group. They are working to recruit current Ackerberg employees to become residents of newly developed properties in Cottage Park. We are also moving forward with the installation of speed humps on James. The next step will be an informational meeting, January 14, 2008 at 6:00pm at the JACC office. This meeting will allow homeowners to see where the humps will be installed and sign a petition that is necessary to continue the installation process.
As your executive director I encourage you to become involved in JACC activities if you haven’t in the past. If you are involved, encourage your neighbor to come with you to JACC events. Without your input, support and effort, Jordan will not continue to move to become a vibrant, healthy and safe neighborhood. Thank you to the board and membership for your leadership in 2007 and I look forward to great things in 2008.
Many blessings for a prosperous 2008. Jerry Moore
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