The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
BUSINESSMAN TO DONATE 10 HOUSES
NORRISTOWN » Sometimes it’s not about good business. It’s more about goodwill.
Real estate investor and developer Lenny Bazemore is hoping his gift of 10 houses to Habitat for Humanity will spark a generous trend within the business community that will snowball into even more opportunities for Norristown’s youth while fueling the town’s economy.
“I do want to inspire others to donate and give back to others who may just need a little help, for the sake of humanity and for others to buy properties in Norristown and bring businesses to Norristown,” said the Norristown native and former Norristown Area High School football star who is the owner of Bazemore Enterprises, The Bazemore Gallery, The Juice Merchant, which has three locations, and Pet Friendly Dog Bakery.
Next year the savvy entrepreneur is opening Philadelphia Prime Steakhouse — the first roof-deck restaurant on Main Street in Manayunk.
Although his business smarts may be thriving in Manayunk, it’s obvious that Bazemore’s heart remains in Norristown.
“I’ve always believed in Norristown,” Bazemore said. “I really want to give the kids in Norristown, where I grew up, more opportunity. If they have a home I think they’re going to go to school, and with the proper support they can do just about anything in this world.”
The first of the 10 houses Bazemore will donate to Habitat for Humanity is his childhood home at 47 W. Basin St., which, in typical Habitat fashion, will be renovated with the help of volunteers and the future homeowner and will provide another family the stability of home ownership.
Bazemore’s mother, Gwen Bazemore, currently still lives in the home but is in the process of downsizing to an apartment. Bazemore’s purchase of the home provided his mother with a nest egg for her retirement, he allowed.
“I gave her that money so she could retire, bought her a new car, set her up in an apartment with furniture, all to give her a new lease on life, you could say,” he noted. “She wants to focus on her faith. She’s a Jehovah’s Witness and she’s out and about sharing her faith with others. This is her time to have a true retirement and do some-
thing that she absolutely wants to do.”
Gwen Bazemore expects to move into her new apartment in January, shortly after settlement is made on the home, her son explained.
“Right now she’s in donation mode herself, so she’s taken a lot of the items to Salvation Army or what have you, and is cleaning out the house of a lot of things,” said Bazemore, who estimated the combined value of the 10 houses and renovations to be around $1 million.
The time frame for the renovation and sale of each home will be determined by Habitat, Bazemore noted.
“When they find a house that’s suitable for donation, they will call me and I will give them the money to fix it up,” he said.
The benevolence will be channeled through the Bazemore Family Foundation, the charitable arm of Bazemore Design Group and Bazemore Enterprises.
“When I was a kid, I always had a place to lay my head and I want to give more children in my neighborhood what I had growing up,” said Bazemore. “These kids from Norristown are special — they’re resilient, gritty and sharp. But they need stability to be able to do bigger things. It’s all about home ownership and giving people a foundation. I buy the house, give it to Habitat, who in turn fixes it up to give to someone else ... so it’s the gift that will ultimately keep on giving. The kids who are born and raised in that house will have a solid foundation and this whole thing will hopefully inspire others to do a little more in the community.”
Marianne Lynch, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties, said that the lack of affordable housing is an ongoing concern for the organization.
“The fact that the Bazemore Family Charitable Fund wants to be involved in making a difference at such a significant level gives me tremendous hope that this housing crisis is solvable,” Lynch said. “I feel extremely blessed that they have put their trust in our organization and I am excited to move another family into a home in 2018.”
This is not Habitat’s first experience as the recipient of Bazemore’s generosity.
Around this time two years ago, Bazemore donated a house at 52 W. Basin St., across the street from his childhood home, to Habitat.
What would have been another potential “flip” for an enterprising real estate investor instead served as Habitat For Humanity’s 34th rehab in Norristown and the future home of a deserving family that otherwise probably never could have afforded to purchase the house, which Bazemore said had been appraised at $50,000.
Today, that home is owned by a mother and her four children, who had previously been living together in one room.
“My first experience with Habitat helped me understand the complexities around the housing crisis,” Bazemore said. “Our Fund was in a position to do more, and with the Habitat partnership, I know we will be able to accomplish great things. Our greatest hope is that others will see how they can make a difference in Norristown and that there’s a groundswell of support for this wonderful place. We need more development in Norristown and more people to come in and take these old buildings and make them new again and share their entrepreneurial spirit. We need the community to be the best that it can possibly be because it is the county seat. It’s time for everyone to realize that Norristown is a beautiful community where you can raise a family and have a successful business.”