Community development activity continues to progress in Johnston Square!

Over the summer, City officials, State and community partners, and other stakeholders gathered for

ReBUILD Metro’s launch of the revitalization of its next 36 abandoned properties in Johnston Square. During this next phase, the City is razing 14 blighted properties in the 400 block of East Biddle Street and the 1200 block of Brentwood Street to make way for a new mixed-use, multi-family building.

In October 2019, the City approved a sweeping Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Rebuild Johnston Square Partners, LLC, to convert more than 700 blighted and abandoned properties into new housing and greenspace. JS Partners will renovate and redevelop the vacant buildings and lots for both residential and commercial uses, including homeownership. This plan provides a comprehensive approach to eliminating blight and building community.

Through this partnership, it is expected that vacants in Johston Square will decrease from 52 percent to as little as 3 percent. Additionally, home values should increase by more than 150 percent over the course of a 10-year development cycle. 

The City is supporting this effort — an investment of more $5 million — through ARPA funding, Community Catalyst Grant money, and sellers’ financing. Watch video.