In Lois Broerman’s view, community redevelopment is just this simple. Known as the “Guardian Angel of North Fairmount,” Broerman has spearheaded the establishment of a new medical center and several new businesses, plus the renovation and sale of 80 homes to first-time buyers, in this low-income Cincinnati community.
Although its per capita income is second-lowest among Cincinnati’s neighborhoods, North Fairmount has gradually undergone an economic revival of sorts—thanks, in part, to the tireless efforts of Broerman and her corps of volunteers.
Broerman, executive director of the North Fairmount Community Center (NFCC), notes proudly that financing for much of the work comes from private loans and grants. "We have no government subsidy for most of our rehab projects,” says Broerman. “We’ve worked very hard at being self-sufficient, so that we don’t have to rely on public funding.”
Broerman first came to North Fairmount in 1979 when she was hired as a pastoral assistant at St. Leo’s Church. Soon after her arrival, the St. Leo’s elementary school closed its doors for the last time.
Broerman, along with neighborhood residents, approached the pastor of St. Leo’s with a plan to convert the school into a community center that would serve the entire neighborhood. After securing $100,000 in community development block grants for renovations to the building, the NFCC opened in 1981, housing a day care facility, Head Start program, GED (general education development) program, and a senior center.
“When I first arrived at St. Leo’s,” says Broerman, “builders in the area told us the neighborhood should be bulldozed. Community development officials said the area was too far gone to be saved.”
She points out that when renovation of the school building began in 1980, the appraised value of the structure was $70,000. “Now, the building is appraised at $500,000. I’m so happy that what was once the school now serves the whole community, from infants to seniors well into their 80s.”
The development of the NFCC has attracted a half-dozen new businesses to North Fairmount. A barber shop, beauty shop, construction company, woodcraft shop, and a dental clinic have all had their beginnings in the renovated community center.
In 1989, Broerman embarked on her most ambitious project: the purchase and redevelopment of a vacant North Fairmont foundry. At that time, Edward Hubert, chairman of the Hubert Co. and an NFCC volunteer, suggested that Broerman convert the 70,000-square-foot structure into profit-generating real estate, which could help to fund NFCC projects. Although the combined asking price and demolition costs seemed prohibitively expensive—and liens against the property totaled $100,000—Broerman was undeterred.
In league with the Cincinnati Economic Development Department and Cincinnati City Council, Broerman lobbied the federal government for development funds. One year later, the group was rewarded with a $250,000 federal grant. The Ohio Department of Development gave Broerman’s group a $50,000 grant toward demolition of the foundry, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation provided a $30,000 loan to cover other expenses.
“For the neighborhood, it gets rid of a tremendous blight,” explains Broerman. “The old foundry was certainly an eyesore. With the development of the property, we created the potential to add new jobs in the area.”
Three years ago, the property’s first tenant—the Hopple Street Neighborhood Medical Center—broke ground for a $2.1 million comprehensive medical facility. Donald L. Neyer, president of Al Neyer Inc., coordinated environmental studies. Neyer also agreed to have his company design and construct the facility at cost.
“Attracting a medical center to this neighborhood has been one of my dreams for 17 years,” says Broerman. “It’s always been a goal of ours to provide area residents with comprehensive medical services.” Affiliated with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and University Hospital, the Hopple Street facility employs 35, including a half-dozen neighborhood residents. Medical services are offered on a sliding fee scale based on income.
Generating employment is one of Broerman’s major goals. “By creating jobs, we’re helping to increase home ownership, which creates pride in the neighborhood.”
Utilizing a $300,000 line of credit from Provident Bank and a $250,000 credit line from Bank One, NFCC has purchased more than 80 neighborhood houses. The group has rehabbed these houses with professional and volunteer help and made them available to people who qualify for low-income loans. To date, Provident has underwritten more than $3 million in mortgage loans to purchasers referred by NFCC.
Crediting Broerman with “incredible focus and tenacity,” Robert Hoverson, executive vice president of Provident Bank, says his bank’s relationship with NFCC has succeeded because Broerman has consistently demonstrated her abilities to manage property and resources. “As a bank, we want to support urban neighborhoods, but when it comes to doing it with risk dollars, we look for the best people,” says Hoverson. “We don’t expect community development groups such as NFCC to have big balance sheets, but we do expect integrity and expertise. Broerman and her people have both.”
Looking to the future, Broerman says her plans include the creation of a youth services program and a neighborhood arts program. “We are absolutely devoid of cultural activities in North Fairmount,” she says. “We have talented people in this community who need to be recognized for their skills. These people can serve as role models for our children. And in this neighborhood, role models are a precious resource.”