No longer searching for a stable home, Valencia Black has settled in at Place of Grace
An abandoned 10-unit apartment complex gets new life from CAAP.
By Andy Greenman
The corner of Cedar Avenue and 7th Street in the Bickford neighborhood was an eyesore for much of the past decade. A two-story, multi-colored brick apartment complex sat abandoned. Barbed wire atop a chain-link fence surrounded the property. On the roof, a series of satellite dishes pointed to the heavens, desiring the return of Soul Train. Boarded-up windows and overgrown trees gave little hope to this former anchor of its block.
Along 7th Street, Promise Development built a pair of homes adjacent to the apartment in 2013. The following year, Uptown Manor Senior Development, a 50-unit senior living facility, opened across the street. President Jimmy Carter joined Habitat for Humanity to fill in the block with a number of single-family homes. Even as new housing options appeared, the corner lot at 1051 7th Street continued to worsen.
In December 2020, the CRA purchased the apartment complex from out-of-state investors. In an attempt to revive this corner lot, the CRA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to find a partner. The answer was nearby.
Across the street, Cocaine Alcohol Awareness Program (CAAP) had built and managed Uptown Manor. CAAP’s Executive Director, Albert Richardson, contacted the CRA with ideas to bring new life to the corner.
“The CRA was anxious to make sure something beneficial to the community took place in that area,” Richardson explained. “They opened their arms and formed a true partnership.”
The CRA donated the land and building to CAAP. On October 17, 2023, Mayor Jim Strickland and Albert Richardson buried their gold shovels in dirt to celebrate the restoration of the building. Place of Grace was born.
As construction progressed, the neighborhood watched. Valencia Black, a financial counselor for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, passed by nearly every day to visit her mother. She watched as bricks were laid, windows replaced, and staircases reconstructed. She didn’t have to look far because her mother, Patricia, was living right next door at Uptown Manor.
Commuting across the city to aid her mother with laundry, meal preparation, and cleaning began to take a toll on Valencia. Stress began to build as Valencia became overworked. The pressure added to the depression and anxiety she’s carried since her husband, Roosevelt Jr., died of a heart attack in 2015.
Although she has maintained a 12-year career at Le Bonheur, Valencia has been unable to find a long-term residence. She spent a year at the Hospitality Hub in Orange Mound, followed by a stint with her sister. On June 11, 2025, she signed a lease with the Salvation Army Women’s Shelter, where she lived in a shared space with three others. She inspired many with her charming appearance, shiny jewelry, and delightful scent.
“Just because I stay in a shelter doesn’t mean I have to look like it,” she insisted.
Throughout the moving around, Valencia says her colleagues were unaware of her housing situation. Her dedication to helping others and maintaining a professional appearance disguised her personal challenges.
Valencia was spending upwards of $200 on Uber rides to and from work on the weekends alone. The loss of her husband still weighed heavily, and last year, she suffered a mild stroke.
“As the years go by, I think it will get better, but it doesn’t go anywhere,” she grumbled, referring to her depression. “Even though all this is going on, I still keep moving.”
With months left on her lease at the Women’s Shelter, Valencia was again searching for a place to live. A low credit score didn’t help. She couldn’t afford units that required a deposit equal to three times the monthly rent. That’s when she inquired about the building across the street from her mom. She applied and put her faith in the Lord.
Valencia and her husband, Roosevelt, who was part Irish, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day each year. Each year, he would circle the spring holiday on the calendar and decorate their home, treating it as his own Christmas. Since his passing, those memories have brought sadness to Valencia. But this March 17th was different.
The phone rang. An employee from CAAP was on the other end and said ‘Come get your keys. Give us your deposit, and you’re in.’
“It was a chill that had gone through me. Wow, God has answered my prayers once again,” she beamed.
Two days later, Valencia received her keys and became one of the first tenants in the renovated complex.
A few weeks later, we got our first look inside her apartment. Books were stacked on the living room floor, the top few by her favorite author, Joyce Meyer. She’s been sleeping on an inflatable bed until she finds a mattress. A shiny stainless-steel fridge completes the kitchen. Soon, she hopes to arrange the books to make room for a sectional couch and a plush rug. A couch to spread out on and watch scary movies.
“I am going to make this apartment fabulous. I want to make it a home,” she gushed.
Valencia no longer needs to commute across town to assist her mother. With more time, she plans to focus on her health and well-being. Her daughter and two grandchildren are eager to visit, and her mother now lives just steps away. Although there is still much to do, at 58, Valencia feels a renewed sense of hope.
“I love it, the space I have here. I’m at peace.”
Following a ribbon-cutting on December 19, 2025, the 10-unit Place of Grace filled to capacity. The 600 sq. ft. units are available to seniors 55+ with incomes below 60% of AMI. The addition of an elevator has made every unit ADA accessible. Coin-free laundry is available on the main floor. CAAP also provides transportation for health and social services events, such as dental appointments and doctor visits.
Albert states that the title Place of Grace is something that “was welcoming, that had a purpose to give an opportunity to individuals who traditionally wouldn’t have one. The ability to live in affordable, long-term housing that is different from what you’d find in the city for that particular population. And we were able to accomplish that with the help of those funders.”
Partnerships with the Memphis Housing Authority, the CRA, and Housing and Community Development helped this project reach completion.
This rehabilitation is a milestone for residents of Bearwater. Seniors can exercise along the Washington Park loop, catch live music at the Grind City Amp, and someday cycle all the way to Shelby Farms via a future Chelsea Greenline connection. Albert is thrilled at the trajectory of North Memphis.
“It’s been amazing growth. We still have a lot to do, but it’s amazing when you look at 10 years ago.”