Rebuilding community: Two local businessmen are transforming homicide scene into apartments for HALO
RACINE — Five months after a man was killed in his apartment on Douglas Avenue, two local businessmen are transforming the building into a force for good.
Dan Johnson and Ray Stibeck have started extensive renovations to the building at 3501 Douglas Ave. When it’s finished, three apartments will be available for rent by participants in the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization’s permanent housing program.
Last fall, the two men partnered for the first of what they hope will be an annual free community Thanksgiving dinner, and the community’s generous response allowed them to give unused meat to local charities for Christmas dinners. Soon afterward Johnson, owner of Danny’s Meats, and Stibeck, owner of KZ Heating, Air Conditioning and Hydronics, settled on their next project.
Danny Mayfield was killed there Dec. 7, with police determining he was shot by an intruder. Previous owner Dan Exner said while the horrific crime weighed on his mind, his family was ready to turn over the vacant two-story building to someone who could make more services available.
“They’ve got more time to do good things for the community,” Exner said.
Workers said they’ve patched bullet holes in the second-floor apartment, signs of the homicide that remains unsolved. But the dilapidated building posed challenges beyond memories of the tragedy. Volunteers had to pour a new foundation, gut the interior and lift and support the sagging floors.
“It was like the building was smiling at you,” Stibeck said.
About 15 people have helped out so far in one way or another. Among the volunteers are unemployed carpenters Shawn Fallon, 41, of Yorkville, and Rick Bahrs, 42, of Mount Pleasant. It’s helping them shake off some of the rust at their trade.
While he can’t contribute money, Fallon said he has plenty of time to offer.
“It’s good for the community,” he said. “This is a dying part of town right now.”
Stibeck said the renovations began in late March and have ramped up in the past few weeks, with HALO hoping to put residents in by the end of June or early July. Despite balancing the ambitious timeline with their own businesses, the rehabbers are pleased with the progress on the building that once housed Mat Matson’s Grocery Store.
“We feel great about it,” Johnson said. “We wish there were more hours in the day.”
After finishing work on the living space, they plan to demolish a lean-to that’s attached to the apartment building. Part of the space would be dedicated for meals and training for community groups, with the rest used for a fenced playground.
Stibeck estimates it’ll cost $165,000 to complete the entire project. They took out a loan for about $50,000 and are looking for donations of labor or money to help fill in the gap.
The businessmen formed a nonprofit, Dan & Ray Rendering Thanks Inc. After covering expenses, they plan to put the remaining rent income toward future community meals or other programs.
“You’re not going to grow as a community if everybody’s fending for themselves,” said Stibeck, whose larger goal is even more challenging: rebuilding the community’s spirit.
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