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From the Orange Transcript, July 15, 2004

Block party Saturday to signal rebirth of three properties

The restoration of three properties in the city will be celebrated Saturday with a block party on Snyder Street, officials with Housing and Neigh­borhood Development Services announced.

Two abandoned, derelict houses are about to begin new chapters, while a third, which wasn't doing too well across the street, joins them.

The block party is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. in the area of the properties, 212, 221 and 223 Snyder St.

Patrick Morrissy, executive director of HANDS, noted that when three vacant eyesores line a block, "it's like the kiss of death."

According to Morrissy, 221 and 223 Snyder were probably the two worst properties in city of Orange. They were part of an estate, had been vacant and vandalized for years and became badly deteriorated, he said.

"This revitalized cluster of three houses on Snyder Street is a dramatic example of the impact that can be made on a block," Morrissy said, noting that the impact is already evident.

"Seeing the improvements going on next door, a neighboring homeowner decided to re­side his home on his own, said Morrissy."This is what happens when we apply our 'High Impact Strategy:' when we identify and repair the worst house, or houses, on a street, owners begin to reinvest in their own homes. They take a new interest. They take heart."

Morrissy said HANDS' mission is to rehabil­itate strategically located, abandoned and deteri­orated properties. He said it took nearly three years to clear the problems that were obstructing the acquisition of clear title. A fully paid mort­gage was never released, and a satisfaction of mortgage was never recorded because the bank had gone out of business.

Morrissy added there were multiple years of tax liens on the properties, which had been sold to investors by the city of Orange.

Queen Pearson, a member of HANDS' board of directors and president of the nearby Elm Street Block Association, said she is passionate about the work HANDS does for personal rea­sons. After raising her children in Orange, she watched them move to more stable communities.

"Fifteen to 20 years ago, the children didn't want to live in Orange," Pearson said. "But see­ing the work that was being done, they've come back to the neighborhood."

Pearson said two of her sons have returned to Orange to live. They support her work with HANDS, said Pearson, and one of them often accompanies her to a HANDS' closing or ribbon-cutting, or to check out a new renovation.

Marty Mayes, the city's director of planning and development, said he credited HANDS for going after properties no one wanted to deal with because they are such problems. He noted HANDS' work is resulting in neighborhood development and stabilization.

HANDS has offices in East Orange . Its plans include coming to Orange when it moves its offices into the Chronicle building along South Essex Avenue.

The century-old building is being renovated through the organization.

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