Tender Mercies CEO touts benefits of Harkavy rehab

(Portions of this article appeared in Tuesday's edition of Soapbox. After the publication deadline, Tender Mercies CEO added some of his thoughts on how his agency's mission is compatible with the revitalization of Over-the-Rhine.)

Tender Mercies has begun the rehabilitation of the historic Harkavy Hall at 24 W 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine.

Groundbreaking for the project took place in the building's courtyard on April 17, with Ohio Senator Eric Kearney and vice president of development of project partner Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing Brian Langmeyer serving as guest speakers.

The building, which was constructed in the 1870s, contains 30 single-room occupancy units, communal space, and laundry facilities for formerly homeless persons with histories of mental and/or emotional disabilities.

"Providing a secure and attractive home is critical to keeping our population in housing," Tender Mercies CEO Bren Blaine says. "All our residents have lived on the streets, and survived. Sometimes being in housing can be scary if you are not used to it. For new residents, housing also means that they have lost the support systems that they had while living on the streets. They also have to live within our living guidelines – no alcohol, no illegal drugs, no threats of or actual violence, pay the rent if they have income."

When the more than $4 million project concludes in 2009, it will feature:

* An extra 13,000 usable square feet, including a refinished basement that will house offices, storage space, and a barber shop
* A restored façade
* Up-to-date code compliance, including two new sets of fireproof emergency stairs
* A new elevator
* ADA accessibility
* Green features that will save approximately half of their current energy use
* Air conditioning

"Tender Mercies works hard at being a good neighbor," Blaine says. "That includes maintaining our buildings as best we can, as well as providing a safe and dignified home for our residents."

He says that the rehabilitation work will help market-rate developers by keeping Tender Mercies residents off the streets.

"As much as some folks would like to see all homeless people just disappear, they are not going to," he says. "Providing housing is the first step to regaining the ability to live independently in the community."

And he says that Tender Mercies helps keep Over-the-Rhine diverse, which is important to potential buyers.

"People that only want to live or associate with others that look and act the same, will find enclaves outside the city core to stay," Blaine says.

Most importantly, the upgraded housing will significantly reduce costs to the community as a whole.

"One resident we had for 16 years had spent 64 nights in the hospital the year before she joined Tender Mercies, and a total of 2 nights in her 16 years here: a savings to the community of 10s of thousands of dollars a year," Blaine says.

Residents are being moved to one of Tender Mercies' five other buildings during construction.

Partners in the project also include the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and the Manuel D. & Rhoda Mayerson Foundation.

Photo credit: Tender Mercies, Inc.

Previous reading on BC:
Tender Mercies to rehab Harkavy Hall (8/15/07)