Home and Garden Television (HGTV) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation will join the Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT) as it breaks ground Tuesday, June 21, on the development of 60 units of affordable housing at the site of the former Ripley Maternity Hospital in the Harrison neighborhood. The development is one of twelve selected nationwide for funding and national recognition by the national trust and HGTV.

The Ripley Maternity Hospital was founded in 1886 by Dr. Martha Ripley, one of the nation's first female doctors. For decades, the women-run hospital challenged traditions of medicine, ethnic divisions, and the role of women in society. It closed in 1956 due to financial constraints and the site became a nursing home.

Funded in part by $300,000 of NRP Affordable Housing Reserve Fund dollars, the project will create a mixed-use, mixed-income housing development containing rental and home ownership opportunities for households at very-low, low, and moderate incomes. In addition to the renovations of three existing buildings into housing and community space, CCHT intends to add three new buildings containing rental and homeownership units. Also planned is 1,600 square feet of space to accommodate a neighborhood-scale commercial business that complements the Harrison Neighborhood Main Street Plan along Glenwood Ave.

The NRP Affordable Housing Reserve Funds (AHRF) will be used in the development of the multifamily rental portion.

The groundbreaking will be held:

Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Corner of Penn Ave. N. and Glenwood Ave.
11:30 am - Social Gathering and Site Tours
12:15 pm - Program and Groundbreaking
Additional Tours offered until 1:00 pm

For more information, please contact Nancy at 612-341-3148 or visit www.ccht.org.

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