Murphy Street / "eagle Village" / "centennial Village"

 

Murphy Street, 05.08.11     Although it has faded from memory to a great degree, Murphy Street remains a overgrown, trash-strewn reminder of how badly a local government can screw up neighborhood development.    Originally budgeted to cost $939,000 to renovate/build 11 houses, including a $50,000 developer fee to the 501(c)3 Eagle Village Community Development Corporation, Inc., the city paid out $441,662 without getting single house.    In January 2001, the nonprofit Eagle Village Community Development Corp. acquired the title to 11 houses on Murphy Street and Chatham Place, near the intersection of Alston Avenue and the Durham Freeway.   In April 2002, the city granted Eagle Village $225,000 in federal money to install curbs, gutters and sidewalks along Murphy Street, reconstruct Murphy Street, reconnect two streets, install new water and sewer connections and move utility lines underground.   In January 2003, the city approved another $164,000 for landscaping, public lighting, surveying and driveway improvements. The City Council extended the two contracts a total of five times.   The budget increased to $1.2 million, and the city accidentally approved a $463,000 construction loan in January 2004. Warning signs were everywhere - the group failed to produce reports and audits, as well as their Form 990 (non-profit tax returns that need to be made public.)   In 2004, the leadership of this fine effort was:   Eagle Village Community Development Corporation Executive Director: Everett Miles   Board of Directors: A. John Bryson, Community Development Officer, RBC Centura Bank Gualberto Rivera, NCCU Graduate Student Cynthia Jackson, Owner, Cynthia's Hair Design Angela Wall, Consultant Vivian McCoy, Retired, Duke University Medical Center Evelyn Schmidt, Executive Director, Lincoln Health Center Brenda Watson, Branch Manager, Sanford L. Warren Library Ruth Wynne, Retired Educator, Durham Public Schools   In 2005, after a final expenditure of $650,000 in public funds, the city ended up tearing down the houses that the non-profit completely failed to renovate.    Things have improved to a great degree since then - we've been spared regular boondoggles such as the city loan scandal and wasted money on housing efforts that delivered so much less than promised, often involving the friends and connections of the city council, for awhile.  Although I disagreed with the demolition of the entirety of Barnes Avenue in the creation of Eastway Village, it seems from the outside to have been a well-run, successful project.     But we can always head back that direction - lest we think the current situation self-perpetuating. It's an unfortunate reality of government that the temptation to push for the hire of the underqualified pals is too great for some elected officials. Public vigilance is a good thing.