About

Porchlight is a group of like-minded real estate and construction professionals with a multi-faceted, multi-phase plan to reinvigorate urban areas experiencing blight, decay, and disinvestment within Mobile, Alabama’s historic urban core.

Problem

Urban centers across the country are experiencing blight and decay. The fabric of historic neighborhoods has begun to unravel with lack of sufficient housing, deterioration of infrastructure, lack of investment, and shrinking of the taxpayer base.

Goal

To capitalize on job growth and major investment by leading an effort to rebuild a housing stock that has been deteriorating over many decades. Porchlight will work to bring together government, public, and private resources which align everyone behind a clear plan of action. The goal will be to build new and restore existing homes that return life, vibrancy, and investment to neighborhoods. Each house must enhance the existing neighborhood, be built with quality materials, and be energy efficient. The model must be sustainable and transferable between communities, neighborhoods, developers, and cities.

Phase 1

The City of Mobile, Alabama was chosen for Porchlight’s first project.

At nearly 60 city blocks, the Oakleigh Garden District and Texas Hill make up one of Mobile’s largest and most well-known sections of town. The area is bounded by Government Street to the north, Ann Street to the west, Broad Street to the east, and Magnolia Cemetery to the south. The Oakleigh Garden Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and makes up one of Mobile’s six locally designated historic districts. The area boasts over 500 historically significant structures, including some of Mobile’s most well-known landmarks, the Oakleigh House Museum and Washington Square Park. Many notable establishments are in Oakleigh as well, including Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, Hummingbird Way Oyster Bar, Pollman’s Bakery, and Griffith Service Station.