Washington, D.C. -  Congressman David Price (D-NC) today joined local officials and Durham residents for the grand opening of Franklin Village, a Hope VI neighborhood revitalization project on the location of the former Few Gardens community.  

Left to Right: Durham Mayor Bill Bell, executive director of the Durham Housing Authority Harrison Shannon, senior vice president of Community Builders Willie Jones, and Congressman Price.

In his remarks, Price noted that the federal Hope VI program is unique and important because it is not just concerned with providing shelter to those in need, but it seeks to build entire communities where residents feel safe and comfortable at home.

“Once again, the HOPE VI program has proven its ability to transform a whole neighborhood – to provide ‘hope’, just as the name suggests, to the families that will call this community their home,” Price said.  “Franklin Village will give hundreds of Durham families a chance to live with peace of mind, to raise their children and to achieve their goals.”

Price is a longtime supporter of the federal Hope VI housing program, and he has worked to protect the program from Bush budget cuts as a member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee.