Urban Legacy Lands Initiative Inc. received two grants totaling $1.6 million to support its work of promoting Black cultural heritage in historic revitalization, land development and placemaking.
The grants came from Lilly Endowment and New York-based Mellon Foundation. Each contributed $800,000.
The initiative’s primary focus will be Indiana Avenue, which had nearly 5,000 homes and businesses razed between 1958 and 2000. Today, several sites along or near the avenue are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Madam Walker Legacy Center, Crispus Attucks High School and Lockefield Gardens.
The initiative includes two components: ULLI Land and ULLI Heritage.
ULLI Land is the study and application of best land development planning and practice for Black heritage communities, beginning with Indiana Avenue and Historic Fox Lake in Steuben County. ULLI Heritage will focus on Black scholarship and heritage preservation in Black communities.
ULLI is headquartered at 16 Tech.
