Growing partnership: Washington Park neighborhood gets a boost from two companies

MILWAUKEE -- More kindling is being added to an already burning flame in Milwaukee's Washington Park neighborhood -- and that's a good thing. It involves a partnership between Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and Wells Fargo.

On Tuesday, January 12th, Wells Fargo made a check presentation of $225,000 to Milwaukee Habitat as part of its "Priority Markets Program." It'll be used to renovate the Washington Park pool facility, rehabilitate six tax-foreclosed homes, and repair ten owner-occupied homes.

"A lot of times these are homeowners who have lived in the neighborhood for decades. So it helps them stay in their homes, age in their home so that they can stay out of assist care," said Brian Sonderman, executive director of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.

"It's really meant to help areas where we feel are somewhat distressed, but also where we stimulate growth," said Sang Kim, regional president for Wells Fargo.

Habitat made a five-year revitalization commitment to the Washington Park area in 2013. It was initiated by the residents. More than 200 homes have been affected so far. They have built on almost all of the vacant lots in the area -- and are now focused on rehab and repair.

"It was hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, both with city-owned tax foreclosure and also the mortgage home foreclosure," said Sonderman.

Wells Fargo and Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity want their revitalization efforts in the Washington Park neighborhood, besides other things, to improve the quality of life for the thousands of people in the area.