*Bishop T.D. Jakes wants to help more Black Americans become homeowners so he launched an initiative to make housing more attainable for Black residents of Atlanta.
Jakes purchased 94.5 acres of land from the Local Redevelopment Authority Board of Fort McPherson, the historic army base is situated near downtown Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Per PR Newswire, the renowned minister and bestselling author plans to transform the land into a “vibrant new residential and commercial neighborhood” with “new cultural amenities” according to the news release.
“This is organic to me,” Jakes said, according to The Root.” It’s part of my DNA, and it’s part of things that I’ve always done. Beyond the communities that we built prior to TDJ REV, it gave me some experience and equity in understanding the crises that we’re facing.”
According to the news release, “The development is part of Jakes’ long-term vision to cultivate quality affordable housing for the underserved in a model that will be duplicated across the country and around the world as a part of a deepening recognition that access to affordable housing is what fuels and facilitates access to opportunity.”
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“We wanted to create living spaces that included green spaces, biking trails, access to healthier foods, and covenants in our properties that protected us from loan sharks and things that have been as pervasive as cancers eating into the fabric of the African American community,” said Jakes.
The new residential and commercial neighborhood will be developed next to Tyler Perry’s massive movie studio.
“We’re due those opportunities, and we’re due those chances,” Jakes said. “We’re also acquiring some pre-existing Malta income facilities (no annual property tax) where it’s feasible to make sure there is a hand up for workforce and underemployed people to have access to adequate living—as well as people who are gainfully employed.”
He added: “We might have a great church service, but we’re not having a great community and we’re not having a great life. Ultimately, my vision is to stand at the epicenter of ministry and marketplace in such a way that not only are we ministering to your spiritual needs but we’re also a ministry to your natural needs by forming [partnerships] within the marketplace for the upward mobility of people of color”.”
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