Highland Park attracting news businesses, building new homes

Excerpts from the story:

Arthur Blackwell II, Highland Park’s second state-appointed emergency financial manager, says he has ideas that could result in the city having a balanced budget as early as the 2007-08 fiscal year.

Blackwell plans to generate revenue — lots of revenue. He’s hired an income tax specialist who will go after tax scofflaws.

And housing is important to Blackwell.

The tax base will expand if the city can attract more moderate- and middle-income residents, he said.

The Rev. Julius Hope, pastor of the New Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Highland Park, agrees. He is spearheading a $20-million housing development that will have 80 single-family homes selling for about $150,000.

A cleanup campaign has made the city more appealing. New businesses in the city include Coca-Cola, a deal his predecessor negotiated, and others are lined up, such as a Southern Fires restaurant and a major clothing store, Blackwell said.

“We’re just trying to show people what we can do,” he said.

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