KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Hope and plans for affordable housing on Kalamazoo’s Northside is now a pile of rubble after a suspicious fire destroyed four homes.
Flames towered over the area when the fire broke out late Tuesday night at a vacant home on West North Street between Woodward and Staples Avenues.
Three of the damaged homes were abandoned but a fourth was the home of 84-year-old Nancy Harwood for more than 40 years. According to a GoFundMe page for Harwood it states, “She barely made it out with just the pajamas on her back, and now she has nothing.”
Another one of the homes was bought by real estate agent Twala Lockett-Jones, who planned on changing the property into affordable housing units and a tea house business.
Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema says they hope to rebuild so they can still create the affordable housing units.
Locket-Jones adds, “I feel this recent setback is just a setup for a great comeback. I remain encouraged that my vision will come to pass in due time.”
According to the GoFundMe page, “Her vision was to create four units of affordable housing, a small neighborhood tea house, and a community outreach program called “Girls Build Kalamazoo” that would be dedicated toward teaching construction trades and sewing skills to middle and high school girls.”
Investigators are still searching for answers on what started the fire.
All of the homes were considered total losses and were torn down on Wednesday. A fifth house received minor damage from the heat of the fire.
Another fire also broke out hours later that night at a vacant home on Stockbridge Avenue in the Edison Neighborhood.
Anyone with more information on these suspicious fires should contact authorities.
Two GoFundMe campaigns have been set up to help both Harwood and Lockett.
