Amidst the shadows, a beacon of hope emerges on W 13th & 14th Street in Ward 3 of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Construction is underway, foundations are being laid, and the promise of homeownership is palpable.
This block marks the inaugural project of We Center/We Build, a grassroots nonprofit led by Codney Washington. We Build aims to rejuvenate Pine Bluff’s urban areas, offering low-income residents the opportunity to own their homes.
A former construction worker, skate rink owner, and longtime vocational trainer in Pine Bluff, Washington’s mission is to restore the Arkansas Delta and surrounding areas one home at a time and one block at a time.
To do this, We Build partnered with Communities Unlimited (CU) and come dream.come build. (cdcb) to expand the DreamBuild model into Arkansas, introducing volumetric modular housing solutions in Pine Bluff.
“Pine Bluff is divided into four wards. Our plan is to start our housing model in one ward first. Then, in the next few years, we’ll concentrate on helping that area grow. We’ll then aim to replicate this model across the remaining wards to foster neighborhood development. Our goal is to see Pine Bluff return to its former glory.”
— Codney Washington, We Center/We Build
Utilizing the local youth workforce, We Build constructs modular homes, which are designed in a box format, allowing for easy addition of more modules over time.
For instance, if a family initially purchases a two-bedroom, one-bathroom setup but later needs more space due to a growing family, they can easily add extra rooms or a flexbox, a multipurpose room, to their existing structure.
This flexibility is enabled by the modular construction method. That’s where We Center’s vocational programming plays a crucial role, as workers who don’t have much construction experience, follow step-by-step instructions in the warehouse to make cuts and assemble components before transporting them to the build site.
We Build’s goal is to construct five to seven homes, essentially covering an entire block. The organization broke ground on the first house in the second week of May 2024, starting with foundation and framing work.
Once the homes are complete, CU’s Housing Team, led by Area Director Audra Butler, will provide wrap-around services, such as housing counseling, pre-purchase homebuyer education, and post-purchase owner support.
From We Build to CU, this initiative represents a holistic, community-centered approach to addressing housing issues in Pine Bluff. Butler says this project has been a long time coming.
“We’re excited to start breaking ground. This has been two years in the making, so it’s exciting to support a local entrepreneur and create this amazing business plan that includes workforce development and non-profit building with Codney who has deep ties to the Pine Bluff community.”
— Audra Butler, Area Director of Housing at CU
This first block where We Build is currently active holds a special significance for Evan Jones, We Build’s marketing director, as it’s where he spent his childhood. Amid Pine Bluff’s numerous challenges, Jones sees his role as part of a broader mission to rejuvenate the city, one home and one block at a time.
Following his graduation from Central Arkansas in Conway, Jones and his wife felt a strong pull back to their hometown. Investing in property and a house there, they are motivated by a profound sense of purpose to contribute to Pine Bluff’s revitalization efforts.
“I know home ownership is a way you can build wealth. You can build generational wealth. I didn’t come back to Pine Bluff to do what I’m doing now. I fell into it. It’s out of duty. You can’t do this unless you have bought into the fact this needs to happen and it can happen with the right set of people with the right team. The city needs us. I know I can be at least one person to help make a difference.”
— Evan Jones, We Center/We Build
This is Part Two in a Four Part series highlighting the housing developments using volumetric modular housing to address the housing needs in Pine Bluff, AR. Follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn to see when Part Two is available.
