This apartment building on South Bridge Street in Holyoke, viewed from its backyard, was rehabbed by Nueva Esperanza.
Some 20 years ago, the city of Holyoke was on the verge of collapse. Boarded-up buildings and homes were being destroyed by arsonists. One fire killed five people and a rash of others left residents, many of whom were immigrants, homeless.
It would have been hard to believe back then that the city would be recognized for community accomplishment. But in May, the city was selected as one of 30 national finalists in the 2001 All-America City Award contest sponsored by the National Civic League and the Allstate Insurance Co.
Some would say that Nueva Esperanza, a community development corporation founded by leaders of the Latino community in Holyoke in 1982, could take part of the credit for the city’s dramatic turnaround. The group was founded partly as a result of the public outcry over the fires and corruption that were ravaging Holyoke.
In 19 years, Nueva Esperanza – which translates into New Hope – saved and improved much of Holyoke’s housing stock. The group renovated nearly 400 housing units for low- and moderate-income people, and is currently working on three projects that would create up to 49 additional rental units.
For its efforts, the group was recently honored with a community service award from the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association.
They [Nueva Esperanza] have been the primary advocacy voice for the low-income residents of South Holyoke, said William Murphy, administrator of the city’s Office of Community Development.
Murphy said Nueva Esperanza has been effective because of its multidimensional focus. While other community development corporations may focus on one particular area, Nueva Esperanza has delved into housing renovation, construction, economic development and educational projects.
An aspect of them that not all community development corporations in town exhibit is that they have a very broad interest, he said.
Indeed, Nueva Esperanza has engaged in a number of economic development initiatives, including constructing a Mercado where local crafts can be marketed, and running a program that helps high school dropouts learn carpentry skills and earn their high school general equivalency diplomas.
We do see housing as the primary need of our residents but we’re also really clear that we’re in this to build a healthy community – to help people with whatever needs they have, said Carlos Vega, Nueva Esperanza’s executive director for the last four years. We don’t just see ourselves as housing developers.
Nueva runs four after-school programs, including a program that promotes the arts for many of Holyoke’s low-income and Latino children. The programs cater to grade school- through high school-age students.
The group is also providing assistance to small business owners to help them be more competitive and to make them aware of the resources available to them, and it also runs courses to help people decide whether they want to start their own businesses.
Vega, who came to Holyoke from Equador as a young child with his immigrant parents, explained that Nueva Esperanza focuses on a holistic model of development that is creating housing and providing social service programs for residents.
Currently, Nueva Esperanza is poised to start working on Puerta de la Esperanza, the creation of 35 affordable rental units that border one of the gateways to the city.
The $5 million project involves the renovation of two old and mostly vacant buildings and the construction of two three-story townhouses.
According to Vega, Nueva Esperanza is ready to sign a deal with the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp. to begin that project. It is expected to take about 11 months to complete.
Nueva is also behind the construction of a two-family home on South Bridge Street in South Holyoke. The home is being constructed by participants of Nueva’s YouthBuild Program, which is designed for high school dropouts aged 16 to 24 who need help to earn their GEDs.
YouthBuild participants are also taught carpentry skills and complete a variety of projects. Participants are currently constructing the two-family home, which will be rented to low- and moderate-income people and is expected to be finished by April.
Residential Core
Nueva has also received grants to start a project that involves the demolition of two small apartment buildings and the conversion of rowhouses on Newton Street into 12 condo units. The group is currently working on the plans and will seek the appropriate permits during the winter.
While all of Nueva Esperanza’s recent accomplishments have gained the attention of community and advocacy groups, Vega said a defining moment for the organization came about 15 years ago.
It was then that Miguel Acre, Nueva Esperanza’s director at the time, was able to negotiate an agreement with the city where Holyoke leaders acknowledged the need for a residential core in South Holyoke, while the organization itself recognized the need for industrial expansion on the outer boundaries of the neighborhood.
The city really began to recognize Nueva as a legitimate housing developer for the city, he said. That was really a key moment in the history of Nueva Esperanza.
Today, Nueva Esperanza’s leaders are celebrating the recent CHAPA award.
It’s nice to be recognized for the body of work that the agency has done, said Vega. A lot of times, agencies outside of Boston sometimes don’t get the recognition they deserve.
