Brutontown, a community located off Rutherford Road, has been battling with drugs and crime since before the 1970s. At one point this neighborhood had excess of 100 vacant lots, almost 65 out of 100 homes were considered substandard, and roughly 75% of the homes were in a deteriorated condition. This small community has been struggling since then to get back on its feet and help turn the neighborhood around. Several homeowners in the neighborhood who wanted to see it change for the better began asking around for help.

The Greenville County Redevelopment Authority has helped to play a major role in turning this once unsafe community back into a safe place once again. The GCRA has used $200,000 from a Community Development block grant to help make improvements within the neighborhood. Since 2004, $15 million has been allocated to demolish 30 homes with plans in place to construct 80 more. Another $250,000 is planned for street improvements by the end of 2011. Other neighborhoods are receiving the same attention as Brutontown, neighborhoods such as Poe Mill and Woodside Mill.

One of the keys to successfully turning this particular neighborhood around has been the Brutontown Recreation Center, which hosts after school programs for seniors as well as pick-up basketball games. Once school lets out, children now have a place to go instead of wondering along the streets.

Homeowners must qualify to receive assistance, but programs are available through the Greenville Housing Fund or The South Carolina Trust Fund. Homes are priced from $70,000 to $105,000 and range from 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom to 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

For more information regarding this community or any of the programs available, visit the GCRA website.