This week marks the 95th anniversary of Matthew Henson's co-discovery of the North Pole and the city of Phoenix recognized this with a groundbreaking ceremony today to commence the start of the demolition process for the Matthew Henson revitalization project.

HOPE, Homeownership Opportunities for People Everywhere, that's what HOPE VI stands for and Phoenix's HOPE VI Project is one step closer to making this a reality for residents of the Central City South Community with the revitalization of the Matthew Henson Homes.

The revitalization project will take place in three phases during the 60-month process and will replace the 372 units with 611 apartments and townhomes.

The Matthew Henson Housing Community was one of the first three public housing projects constructed in Phoenix. The community, named for the famous African-American explorer, was built in 1941 to provide affordable housing for the city's African-American residents.

The project's courtyard design concept created a sense of community where neighbors could visit one another while sitting on their front porches with a view of the children playing in the courtyard. The original property consisted of ranch-style red brick buildings and later expanded in 1948 and again in 1960.

The Matthew Henson Housing Community played an integral role in the African-American community, providing a nurturing environment for politicians, civil rights workers and community activists within the area.

In 2001, the city of Phoenix received a $52 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to revitalize the Matthew Henson Community by removing the existing units and building state-of-the-art, mixed-use housing for low-income, elderly and single-family residents.

The HUD grant covers approximately one-third of the $102 million dollar revitalization project. Through the formation of several valuable community partnerships, this project has become a reality.