Dear Friend,

In May of 1994, when I became the Executive Director of this organization, after having spent most of my professional career in corporate America, little did I know that this then struggling organization would one day become the leading developer of housing in Crown Heights and a major service provider for the Central Brooklyn community. Through the hard work and the dedication of its staff and the cooperation of its Board of Directors, LDCCH is realizing its goal of being a catalyst for improving the lives of thousands of community residents, and transforming Crown Heights into one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Since its inception, LDCCH’s mission has been to help those least able to help themselves and provide community residents with the requisite skills and resources for self empowerment. To achieve these goals LDCCH sponsors a number of programs which provide an array of services ranging from low income and affordable housing development, youth development, and empowerment services, small business loans that support entrepreneurial activities to elderly housing and support services.

LDCCH’s commitment toward helping senior citizens spend their golden years living in affordable and quality housing has been a particular source of PRIDE and personal satisfaction for me. Seeing the smiles on the faces of elderly men and women as they enter their brand new apartments fills my heart with joy and reaffirms my desire to do all I can to assist them.

LDCCH’s success is rooted in its understanding that to be effective in meeting its goals and aspirations, it must partner and collaborate with governmental agencies, elected officials, community leaders, and the private sector. Having established such partnerships over the years has resulted in LDCCH realizing broadbase community support and access to governmental and private sector resources.

Since its humble beginning in 1987, LDCCH has grown form an organization with a staff of one person with projects and program funding of only a few thousand dollars to its present status as a major community institution with a staff of over 30 people and development projects and programmatic funding now in excess of $150 million dollars.

Although LDCCH has experienced great success in addressing the myriad of needs that abound within the Central Brooklyn community, there is still much more that needs to be done. Hopefully, with help from President Obama’s administration and Governor’s Paterson’s administration, LDCCH will receive additional resources to assist it in fulfilling its mission. LDCCH looks forward to meeting the challenges that lie ahead as it endeavors to make manifest its belief that “We are our Brothers/Sisters keepers and have an obligation to help others.

With that in mind, LDCCH’s future plans include expanding exiting services and creating new programs such as job placement assistance, health care services, commercial development, and the creation of an additional 300 units of affordable housing, that will be available to a diverse range of incomes for individuals and families.

I am profoundly proud of the work that LDCCH is engaged in and feel honored and privileged to serve as its Executive Director.

Please contact us and join our quest to enrich, enhance and empower our community.

Thank you,

Caple G. Spence
Executive Director

Dear Friend,

As a lifelong resident of Crown Heights, I have witnessed its transition from a vibrant and prospering community to one that has been challenged by the social and economical malaise that has plaqued similar urban communities.  Unable to sit on the sidelines and wait for others to address the problems, I decided several years ago to become proactive and join my local community board, board #8.

It was during my tenure as a member of Brooklyn Community Board #8 that I became familiar with the phenomenal work of The Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights. I learned of the vanguard role it was playing in bringing about many of the positive changes I had witnesses in Crown Heights. In fact, I was so impressed with its work that when offered the opportunity to join its board of directors, I accepted without hesitation.

During the four years that I’ve served on the board I’ve been proud to be a part of an organization that has become a transformative institution in Central Brooklyn. Its role as the leading developer of housing for seniors in Crown Heights has made it possible for hundreds of elderly people to transition from substandard, deteriorating living conditions to safe, comfortable and state of the art housing. Additionally, The Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights has not only given the community residents new roofs over their heads, technology training programs, and loans for small businesses; it has also given them hope. Hope that through the work of The Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights, their futures will be brighter and the opportunities greater.

I fervently believe that Crown Heights is on the verge of realizing its glory days once again. All it will take is your involvement, participation and working with outstanding organizations such as the Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights.

I urge you to learn more about this fabulous organization and work closely with its members. Remember, it is through partnerships between community residents and organizations such as The Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights that we can make our community not only better, but greater.

Nizjoni Granville

Dear friend,

In his inaugural address President Obama challenged us to take on the responsibility of rebuilding our communities and being accountable to one another. Long before these profound words were spoken by our President, the Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights, Inc. (LDCCH) recognized its obligation and mission of leading the effort to revitalize Crown Heights and to establish itself as a major service provider in Central Brooklyn.

As Chairman of the Board of Directors of this venerable organization, I am proud of its accomplishments and the contributions it has made in helping Crown Heights bounce back and become one of the most coveted neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Through its collaboration with public officials, community leaders, and the private sector, the Local Development Corporation of Crown Heights, Inc has realized phenomenal success. LDCCH’s resumé boats of two newly constructed senior residences (Kings County Senior Residence and Crown Heights Senior Residence, completion 12/09), the recent  renovation of David Chavis Apartments, the rehabilitation of over 250 units of low and moderate income housing, a small business and entrepreneurial loan program, a computer technology training center, several youth development and empowerment initiatives, an annual family weekend and youth basketball tournament, and several other community outreach service endeavors.

These projects and initiatives have given new hope, dignity, and opportunity to countless Central Brooklyn residents. Although these are difficult times and the challenges are great, the LDCCH board and I remain committed to continuing our efforts to meet the needs of our great community as efficiently and expeditiously as possible.

We stand ready, willing and able to assist our community. Please contact our staff to avail yourself of the many services we provide and information we have available. Thanks for the opportunity to serve you.

Russell Taylor
Board of Directors, Chairman