“Memphis is home for me. So, the work we do is deeply personal,” says Roshun Austin, President and CEO of The Works, Inc. Her commitment to rebuild, restore, and renew Black-majority neighborhoods, particularly Klondike in Memphis, Tennessee, reflects a deep personal connection.
“When I’m building a house,” Roshun continues, “I’m not just thinking about the project—I’m imagining that the person living there could be my mother, aunt, uncle, or brother.” This vision is rooted in her own upbringing. Roshun was raised near the Klondike neighborhood in the heart of Memphis, which is now undergoing the most significant development she has ever seen, thanks in no small part to local organizations, like The Works.
As one of the oldest Black-majority neighborhoods in Memphis, Klondike has a rich history tied to Memphis’ African American culture and Civil Rights Movement. Today, it remains home to communities that actively uphold a legacy of civic engagement through grassroots organizations and community gardens.
Despite its vibrant past, however, Klondike faces significant population decline and low homeownership rates. Many of its approximately 1,100 homes have been left vacant, abandoned, or in disrepair. Recognizing an opportunity to approach development differently than traditional investors and banks, The Works partners with local organizations, including Klondike Smokey City CDC, Neighborhood Preservation, Inc. (NPI), and Urban Renaissance Partners, as well as local community members, to lead a comprehensive revitalization effort committed to development without displacement.
The Works and its partners aim to rebuild and invest in the entire neighborhood, while keeping current residents and attracting new ones. Central to this master plan for wholesale revitalization, Moving Klondike Forward, is a deliberate effort to provide diverse types of housing options, like rental and multi-family housing and single-family homes, both subsidized and market-rate, that are affordable to individuals and families with different income levels.
In the United States, traditional neighborhood development often involves new construction of single-family homes, which have become increasingly expensive in the current housing market, often pricing out most low- and medium-income families. Rising land costs, material expenses, and regulatory requirements contribute to the higher prices of newly constructed homes. This dynamic, which can drive up property values, often exacerbates the risk of displacement in Black-majority neighborhoods when external developers and investors step in. Lower-income residents, who may no longer be able to afford rising rents or property taxes, face fewer options to stay in their communities.
In contrast, by intentionally integrating a range of affordable housing options with market-rate units in Klondike, The Works aims to foster a diverse and inclusive community, enabling existing residents to stay in their communities while also attracting new residents. Through partnerships, The Works has assisted in acquiring 400 parcels of land in Klondike, using various legal structures to purchase and hold these properties.
One of those legal structures anchoring Klondike’s revitalization is the Klondike Community Land Trust (KCLT), established in 2022. The KCLT operates differently from a traditional CLT model. In Klondike, properties are developed with affordability restrictions embedded in the deed rather than through the separation of land and house ownership. This approach is used to preserve affordable housing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing gentrification, without the use of a traditional land lease. These deed restrictions require that any resale be made to buyers who meet specific income qualifications, thus prioritizing residents from within the community and ensuring that local families are not pushed out as the neighborhood develops.
The Works and its partners are also building other community amenities alongside housing. The $81 million Northside Square project is transforming the vacant 270,000-square-foot Northside High School into a vibrant community hub, with an estimated opening in late 2025. Once a cornerstone of the Klondike neighborhood, the high school was closed in 2016 due to declining enrollment. The redevelopment plan will provide affordable housing options, including 42 one- and two-bedroom apartments for low-income residents, and will also house nonprofits focused on community needs, including job training programs and healthcare services. Notably, this hub will also be home to the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
Roshun and her team at The Works are deeply committed to a comprehensive approach, not only in the plan for the Klondike neighborhood, but also in how they engage partners and allies. “We’re much more intentional about linking our work at the state and local levels,” says Roshun. “We are learning from our national partners and adopting best practices from cities like Baltimore and Cleveland that face similar challenges to ours.”
Roshun emphasizes that one of the most significant shifts in their approach has been recognizing the critical role policy plays in either enabling or limiting Klondike’s model for mixed-income and diverse housing options. A 2021 merger with Neighborhood Preservation, Inc. (NPI) brought together The Works’ focus on community development with NPI’s legal and policy expertise, creating a powerful synergy to drive more comprehensive neighborhood revitalization efforts. As an early partner in the Klondike initiative, NPI has already been invaluable in various ways, particularly by leading key changes to the Neighborhood Preservation Act (NPA) that streamlined the conversion process for vacant properties.
“Recent changes to the NPA have clarified the process of appointing a third-party receiver to rehabilitate properties declared public nuisances by the Shelby County Environmental Court,” explains Corey Davis, Staff Attorney and Project Lead for Klondike Neighborhood Initiative at The Works. “If an owner fails to submit a viable abatement plan with a detailed budget and timeline, among other details, the court may appoint a third-party receiver to take over and either rehabilitate or demolish the property on behalf of the owner.”
The Works plays a crucial role in connecting receivers with qualified investors, ensuring properties are addressed promptly and aligned with their broader goals of community revitalization and quality housing.
Corey also highlights how The Works actively engaged with local officials to change a number of zoning ordinances that limited housing development in historically underserved Black-majority neighborhoods, like Klondike. The changes include reduced minimum lot sizes and the introduction of cottage-style homes and accessory dwelling units. Designed to enhance housing density, the changes enable The Works to create more housing opportunities in Klondike.
Roshun remains dedicated to serving her Memphis community and is inspired by the Klondike initiative’s early successes. “Since 2020, homeownership has increased by about 4.6%. Property values have surged across the entire neighborhood—up by about 300%,” Roshun proudly shares. Thanks to the Klondike partnership’s advocacy of local legislative changes, revenue generated from property tax increases is redirected to fund infrastructure and other improvements in the area. Aware that some long-time residents may face challenges with rising taxes, Roshun remains committed to ensuring long-term housing affordability and investments that benefit the community: “We believe this is just the beginning.”
Valuing Homes in Black Communities
Homes in Black majority neighborhoods are undervalued by 23% on average compared to similar homes in other neighborhoods. Structural innovations that redesign our markets could create a more equitable housing market. To support new ideas, Economic Architecture and Brookings are mapping innovations across the US and will soon invite innovators to step forward and apply to the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge.