Riviera Beach, FL (June 28, 2021) – Today, the Riviera Beach Community Development Corporation, City of Riviera Beach, Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, Community Partners of South Florida, The Reentry Center, and Urban Farmers, Inc. joined together with their honored guests to welcome Ms. Shakeela Lowery as a first-time homebuyer in Riviera Beach. This house was renovated completely to make it a comfortable and beautiful place for her family to live in for years to come.
The photo above is what the house looked like before renovations. They took the 3 bedroom and 2 1/2 bathroom house and added on a garage, full bath, and updated the house which brought up the value of the property. This is the first rehabilitation project for the Neighborhood RECLAIM program. The tour was held on August 8, 2019 and was attended by officials from the Florida Department of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice, Palm Beach County Department of Public Safety, the City of Riviera Beach Reentry Program, Riviera Beach CDC and CRA, and Urban Farmers. At this convening, officials described the unique program’s purpose, goals and initial action plan. This community reintegration led by the CDC, is a pioneering program for the City of Riviera Beach.
“Homeownership is one of the first cornerstones in building generational wealth and stabilizing a community. I can assure you that the elected officials are aware of the challenge that we have in our community of moving more to owner-occupied dwellings. That is a commitment on the City and CRA side that we will do everything in our power to welcome residents and homeowners to our community. It will take all of us working together collaboratively. I am confident that we will see the redevelopment of our community with all of us working together,” said Mr. Jonathan E. Evans, MPA, MBA, ICMA-CM, City Manager/Executive Director of CRA.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place on Monday, June 28, 2021 at the new home of Shakeela Lowery at 950 West 1st Street Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Guests in attendance were Darryl Leonard, CDC Board Chair; Orie Bullard, Riviera Beach, Reentry Center; Lynda Charles and Scott Hansel, Community Partners of South Florida; CDC Board Members; Commissioner Tradrick McCoy; Commissioner Douglas Lawson; Mayor Ronnie Felder; Mr. Clarence Sirmons; Mr. Jonathan Evans, City Manager/Executive Director of CRA; Shakeela Lowery, Homeowner; and Annetta Jenkins, Executive Director of CDC. For more information, contact Annetta Jenkins, Executive Director of Riviera Beach Community Development Corporation, at 561-844-3408.
