Habitat for Humanity launching new sustainability program – ReNEW the Block

ReNew inspires livability – housing, community, and family by revitalizing neighborhoods and creating sustainable communities.

Kayha Fox, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area, told Z93 while ReNEW the Block is a new project, they’ve been working in the community doing neighborhood revitalization projects for years.

“As a committee and as a community, we said, ‘What could we do to make our community here in La Crosse a better place to live, work and play?” Fox explained. “We had a committee of like, 30 people and they threw all these ideas on the table, and we said we’re going to do it all so we’re going to be actually putting in native plantings, rain gardens, permeable pavers, Orchard food plots, and educational signage about neighborhood revitalization sustainability.”

ReNew the Block’s first project is the block at South 9th Street in La Crosse between Ferry and Division Streets, incorporating three La Crosse Promise Homes and Lincoln Middle School.

ReNew the Block will highlight all that is possible when people, neighbors, organizations, and communities come together to revitalize neighborhoods and create sustainable communities.

A ribbon cutting took place Saturday afternoon at the launch event at Lincoln, before the entire block is transformed next summer.

This is only Phase One of what they hope will be many more neighborhood blocks revitalized throughout La Crosse in the future.

“Going forward,” Fox added, “neighbors can nominate their blocks, they can come together with their neighbors, they can put in a recommendation application and then we will work with them to bring in the volunteers and they get to choose pieces that they want.”

Get more information on the Re NEW the Block project and launch party below and on their website.