Mike Epps hopes HGTV project will spur affordable housing
The world gets to see comedian Mike Epps and TV producer Kyra Epps rehab houses on “The Upshaws” star’s Indianapolis childhood block starting Nov. 8 with the airing of “Buying Back the Block” on HGTV.
It’s not the typical house makeover show. It’s about family and legacy, the couple told IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network, ahead of the premiere.
After renovating their home on the block, a former firehouse, the couple set about the makeovers of two properties over a 12-week period, including a house next door and a house that belonged to Mike Epps’ grandmother, Anna Walker.
“This was about holding onto legacy, this was about holding on to what we come from,” Mike Epps said.
Where are the houses on ‘Buying Back the Block’?
The exact locations of the properties were not disclosed but Epps grew up around 21st Street and Carrollton Avenue in the 1970s. The two houses featured on the shows are on Epps’ childhood block. They are among six the couple is rehabbing in Indianapolis.
The couple, who have two young children together, will be seen with extended family members in the rehabbed dwellings and leaning on grandmother Anna Walker’s influences.
“This is not just that we’re fixing the house and we want to sell it and flip some money. We would never come back to Indianapolis and do that,” Kyra Epps said. “You’re going to see us really make decisions based off of his grandmother, and how much she poured into it.”
“And then you’re going to see Mike and I build our first house from the ground up, brick by brick and nail by nail together – our first piece of something that we have together. And you’re going to see my kids watch it,” she said. “My son gets to walk the same streets that his father did.”
The project also is about bringing affordable housing to the community. But the team doesn’t plan to stop there. They want to expand the housing component throughout Indianapolis and to other parts of the country. Meanwhile, they’re not leaving entertainment out of the mix. The couple bought a club and plans to pump some grown-up fun into the scene.
Here’s what else to know about the endeavor.
Where do Mike and Kyra Epps live?
They’re pretty much Indy residents, they said.
The couple is in Indianapolis a lot – beyond the comedian’s acts of benevolence, trips to local shops and performances.
“After COVID, we’ve been coming back to Indianapolis a lot. We almost can say we live in Indianapolis, as well as LA,” Mike Epps said. They’ve spent the past summer here, as well as most holidays.
‘Buying Back the Block’ has been decades in the making
Mike Epps bought several properties, beginning in 2003, on the block where his grandmother had raised her family in the 1960s. The family lost her house as crime and drug activity led to the decline of the
neighborhood.
“Mike bought it back for a little or nothing, and sat on them for a while,” Kyra Epps said. “And after a very trying time and situation – 2020 and COVID and all of that – we decided to go back home; go back to Indy and put some love back into this block and build this community back up. They were already regentrifying the neighborhood. And we wanted to stay there. We don’t want to look like the ugly ducklings. We mean something. We’re important. We’ve been here for 60-plus years, and we’re going to stay here.”
Kyra Epps pulled out her producer hat
Kyra Epps, who grew up in Chicago and has been supervising producer of “Iyanla, Fix My Life” and “The BET Social Awards,” said it made sense to turn the project into a TV show. “I’m a producer. So it was only natural,” she said.
Both she and Mike Epps are executive producers of the show.
Kyra Epps said the goal isn’t about flipping houses to make a quick buck, it’s about helping people find their homes. The properties featured on the show, she said, will not be for sale.
The Epps project could go beyond the block
Mike Epps said he wants city and state buy-in to expand to other projects in Indy.
“This was the initial start, and the beginning of a bigger dream and a bigger goal,” he said. “In order for us to get that into play, we had to get the awareness out so that we can get assistance from the state of Indiana, and the city of Indianapolis and get help. Our idea can only grow so far financially; and, community-wise, it’s going to take the help of the mayor; it’s going to take the help of the city to do what we were doing now on a larger scale.”
They’re eyeing mid-sized cities such as Milwaukee and Cincinnati to expand.
“We have a nice formula, and what we have right here will give us a start to do something on a larger scale for the community and for people,” Mike Epps said.
The couple has purchased lots in undisclosed locations on the east side of Indianapolis to build affordable housing.
They’ll delve into financial literacy
With a goal to increase homeownership among underserved communities, Kyra Epps said they’ll also move “to educate them on what it means to have property. Let’s get in there and let’s understand property taxes. Let’s understand the ramifications around being a homeowner, in hopes that you get into this home and you stay there like Mike did with the house that he had; and hope that it doubles or triples in value by the time your kids in the family ... are old enough to take it from you.”
Mike Epps, wife Kyra bought a club
Mike Epps opened the One Mike Detroit comedy club and restaurant in Detroit earlier this year.
There are no plans to expand the concept to Indianapolis, but that doesn’t mean the Eppses aren’t moving to expand entertainment options here. They bought a nightclub in Indy, the old Faces spot, at 2145 N. Talbott St.
“You’ll see on the show that we bought a club,” Kyra Epps said. “We definitely want to bring entertainment back to Indy.”
“It’ll be slower entertainment though,” Mike Epps said.
The work of local Black artists will be featured
Creative agency GANGGANG curated all of the local artwork featured in the “Buying Back the Block” episodes.
A total of 37 pieces, from 11 Indianabased artists, were installed in the homes.
‘Buying Back the Block’ release date and how to watch
“Buying Back the Block” is available to stream on Max and Discovery+. The two-episodes show the progress of properties.