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Tuesday, October 29, 2024
 | | | |  For many decades, Harvest Christian Church has served our neighborhood near the intersection of Grand River Avenue and West Seven Mile Road in Northwest Detroit. This love for our neighbors grew into a vision for a community where families will relax on their porches, watching children play, believing that tomorrow will be an even brighter day.
In 2013, Build It Detroit was launched by a team of leaders from Harvest. We began acquiring and renovating properties, and working alongside the families to turn houses into comfortable, habitable homes. Our vision is to create a vibrant, thriving community.
Now, Build It Detroit is being revitalized to become Grand Seven Detroit, or G7D for short. But the vision has not changed. We are continuing to build a vibrant, thriving, community near the intersection of Grand River and Seven Mile in this “Grand Seven Detroit” neighborhood.
To see some of the history of Build It Detroit you can look at the information below.
To see all that has evolved to become G7D, please go to our brand new website at www.G7D.org
We THANK YOU for your continued support.
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Build It Detroit is a non-profit organization growing from the vision of the leadership of Harvest Christian Church.
Our mission is to serve all people regardless of age or ethnicity by possessing the land, changing attitudes, increasing property values, and restoring neighborhoods. At present we are restoring homes and providing housing for all individuals based on their ability to pay. We are creating a safer neighborhood by eliminating squatters and undesirable elements from our target area which is the streets of Woodbine, Lenore, and Winston from 7 Mile Road to Frisbee Street.
For more information, please go to the website at www.G7D.org
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| | | | In 2013, Build It Detroit, was established with a vision of creating vibrant, thriving communities. A team of leaders from Harvest Christian Church in Northwest Detroit, motivated by a passion for the revitalization of neighborhoods, developed the organization's mission statement:
Releasing life and hope into communities through the rehabilitation of homes and neighborhoods and the restoration of recreation, education, and business facilities and services starting in Northwest Detroit.
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Build It Detroit inspired the development of a committee of volunteers to provide much-needed information to community members regarding the many benefits available from private and governmental agencies. In late 2015, a group having extensive knowledge of these agencies was established. Called One Way To Success, they have met with interested people from the neighborhood – interviewing them, checking eligibility for various programs, and helping with the task of completing applications. They have also referred people to other agencies able to provide needed services. The team is committed to follow up with each individual to evaluate the success of the recommendations made, the services provided, and the effect upon the neighborhood. Releasing hope and life is the ultimate intent.
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| | | |  Build It Detroit has organized community clean-ups. Residents have joined the teams of volunteers from Harvest Christian Church and Motor City Blight Busters. In early May of 2015, the volunteers worked over a two day period to clean the streets, front lawns and vacant properties in the whole neighborhood. About 100 yards of trash was gathered – enough to fill three 40-yard dumpsters! The clean-up had a positive impact on the neighborhood. In 2016 a similar spring clean-up has also taken place in conjunction with the Detroit Motor City Makeover.
Build It Detroit used the clean-up event to identify residents who could use assistance with projects at their own homes. Throughout the summer, more yards are being cleaned up, flowers planted and other beautification projects are being completed.
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Build It Detroit, in addition to volunteers from a variety of other agencies, is seeking to build working partnerships with other local churches and organizations. Working relationships have already been successfully established with Lisa Johanon and Central Detroit Christian and Pastor Taylor Cox of Living the Word Christian Ministries. Also those involved are the architectural design center at DCDC, from the University of Detroit, John George and Motor City Blight Busters and the team from Detroit Future City. Apostle Bob King and Harvest Christian Church are the vision casters that birthed Build It Detroit and provide its base of operations.
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Build It Detroit started with a focus on the Northwest Detroit neighborhood adjacent to Harvest Christian Church. Through finances loaned from the church, building a city in a city ambitiously began with the acquisition of properties on Woodbine, Lenore, and Winston streets. These were purchased from banks, private owners and Wayne County. In 2014 and 2015, additional properties were purchased with plans for renovation.
Build It Detroit has transformed about one third of the acquired properties from vacant, substandard housing into comfortable, habitable homes. 28 people are now satisfied occupants of the restored houses. These tenants, along with their neighbors, are also enjoying the on-going transformation of their neighborhood.
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| | | |  Build It Detroit is bringing into reality a long-dreamed-of project – a neighborhood park. It will include picnic tables, barbecue grills, a children’s playscape, a walking/jogging path, a basketball court, and open space for soccer, flag football or other field-type activities. Future plans could include lighting for evening visibility.
Build It Detroit has six adjoining properties designated for the park. In the space, one deteriorating structure has already been demolished by Motor City Blight Busters and a beautification project has  started. With funding from a grant received from Detroit Future City, ornamental trees, perennial flowers, and other landscaping items have changed the desolate area into one that is attractive and inviting.
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| | | | Build It Detroit has welcomed the services of the Altared Youth Ministry of Harvest Christian Church, which has adopted the community as their “mission field”. Once a month, on Sunday afternoons, the youth provide lunch and offer prayer for the neighbors. Each year, on October 31, they sponsor a Trunk or Treat event, opening the church for games and food, serving over 200 young people. During the Christmas season, the youth delight the neighborhood with traditional caroling. For two consecutive summers, they have set aside a week for house-painting projects and planting flower and vegetable gardens.
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| | | | Build It Detroit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax deductible donations and contributions can be made to Build It Detroit.
Contact Information:
Build It Detroit
PO Box 19213
Detroit, MI 48219
Build It Detroit Administrative Offices
24400 West 7 Mile Road
Detroit, MI 48219
Phone: 313-532-0346
Email: HCC@harvest-christian.org
Website: www.G7D.org
If you would like more information on how you or your organization can connect with, support and help Build It Detroit, please contact us.
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| | | | Build It Detroit is moving from a vision to a reality in the neighborhood. It encompasses the streets of Woodbine, Lenore, and Winston from 7 Mile Road on the south to Frisbee Avenue on the north, and Telegraph Road on the east. Many of the acquired properties are 300 feet in depth – very unusual for City of Detroit lots. The size of these properties opens up many possibilities for development. Grant proposals are being submitted to various foundations for the purpose of planning for our future, focusing on the continual renovation of structurally sound buildings to provide livable spaces for individuals and families. We have also proposed the demolition of substandard structures to provide open green spaces for beautification and urban farming, and other projects as outlined in the strategic framework created through the services of Detroit Future City.
Vision grows as time moves on and resources increase.
What does the future hold?
Build It Detroit is very passionate about our mission.
Transformation…
One neighborhood at a time.
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