The joy of having a home after eight months in a local shelter shined through Shawn Gill’s wide grin as he saw his new house in Kannapolis’ Carver neighborhood Thursday.
“I’m just speechless,” Gill said as he toured his home for the first time with local officials who gathered to celebrate the opening of Wood Avenue to through traffic between U.S. 29 and Dale Earnhardt Boulevard.
The newly paved road had stopped at a dirt road in the community in the past. Paving it and creating a route through the community was a key piece of Kannapolis’ revitalization plans for the Old Carver School Area, which includes the Happy Hollow, New Town, Nightown and Rutledgetown neighborhoods.
Gill, his wife and three children ages 3, 2 and 9 months are among the first to benefit from another part of the revitalization effort -- a partnership between Kannapolis, Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County, Prosperity Unlimited and Cooperative Christian Ministry to refurbish rundown houses in Carver and place families in them.
In addition to paving Wood Avenue, the City of Kannapolis has been buying vacant houses that are in disrepair using U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development money. Then Habitat Cabarrus renovates the houses. Prosperity Unlimited and Cooperative Christian Ministry work with families like the Gills who are placed in the homes.
Gill said he has struggled to find work in Atlanta and Charlotte and returned to his hometown of Kannapolis with his family earlier this year. He said it can be tough to stay positive when you are struggling, but the support of the community has helped him get through the tough times.
“I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have nobody believing in me,” said Gill, who is working with a vocational rehabilitation coach and still looking for work.
Joyce Gibson, president of the Carver Area Historic Preservation Association and a resident, said the work the city is doing will help the whole community thrive.
“Before we had this road (Wood Avenue), all of this was dirt,” Gibson said. “Now I can leave my neighborhood and get to the grocery store in five minutes.”
Gibson lives in an old mill house that belonged to her mother and father. Her father was a street crew worker for Cannon Mills for more than 50 years and bought his house from the mill. Gibson said one thing she would like to see is some corner stores like the area had years ago.
“When I was growing up, we had stores we could go to, to get our cookies and things,” she said.
Kannapolis has helped other neighborhoods in the Carver area also, helping elderly residents bring their homes up to code, Gibson said.
Kannapolis recently purchased two more homes on Wood Avenue that will be renovated soon, city officials said.
Mayor Bob Misenheimer said Kannapolis City Council members have long wanted to make improvements to Carver.
“This is a big day for us,” he said before cutting the ribbon on Wood Avenue Thursday. “Some of us have long felt that this community is just a diamond in the rough. It’s ripe for development because of its proximity to the Research Campus.”
The house that was prepared for the Gills was fully furnished through donations. Cooperative Christian Ministry continues to collect items the family needs to care for their children.
Items still needed are: serving bowls, serving utensils, cooking utensils, plastic storage containers, plastic drinking cups and dishes for the children, child-sized silverware, dinnerware, dish cloths, dish towels, hot pads, a dish rack, mattress pads, sheets, blankets pillow cases for double and twin beds, dressers, lamps, bath towels, washcloths, a step stool to help a toddler reach the toilet and sink, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and fabric softener, laundry baskets, size 4 diapers, size 6 diapers, size 2T pull ups for girls, diaper wipes, a changing pad, sippy cups, outlet covers and other childproofing items, shampoo and a potty chair.
If you have items to donate, take them to Philip’s Station at the Opportunity House, 2216 Kannapolis Highway across from the Employment Security Commission office between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays.
Contact reporter Karen Cimino Wilson: 704-789-9141
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