Over time, as inner-city Houston experienced unprecedented revitalization/gentrification, it became clear that PRH needed to become more active in community development.  PRH developed a plan to preserve and protect existing residents and to use the history of the neighborhood as a foundation for its transformation.  To implement the plan, in 2004, PRH spun off a sister organization, the Row House Community Development Corporation.

Additionally Project Row Houses was given the Eldorado Ballroom and lots beside it as a gift in recognition of their success in innovative urban development.  From the late 1930s until it closed in the early 1970s, the Eldorado was the place for upscale blues and jazz performances, as well as afternoon talent shows and sock-hops.  Currently, it is being restored to its original condition for designation as a historic building.  Eventually this site will become part of the draw for restaurants and other entertainment venues to establish themselves in the district. 

Nuts and Bolts:
-    The use of the row houses are as follows:  8 houses for bi-annual rotation of artist installation projects; 7 houses for the Young Mothers Residential Program; 5 houses for daily After School/Summer program for 60 neighborhood youth; 2 houses for storage/office space.
-    In 1997 PRH formed a collaboration with Rice University School of Architecture's non-profit group called Rice Builders Workshop (RBW) who designed and built a two-story contemporary adaptation of Third Ward's vernacular shotgun architecture.  RBW adpated the single-family house to an over/under duplex design and the Row House CDC built four which were completed in 2004.  Several of those units provide transitional housing for young families who have "graduated" from free rent in PRH's Young Mothers Residential Program.  RBW also designed and built the "extra small house" that is a 600 sq. ft. efficiency modeled after the shotgun.
-    Project Row Houses raised funds for renovations to the Eldorado Ballroom that is currently used for a monthly historic music series as the renovation process toward historic designation progresses.  

Successses:
-    Project Row Houses involves over 20,000 people annually through their activities including art openings, festivals, education programs, community events, etc., of which 200 are from the neighborhood
-    Over 175 artists have participated in the public art installations
-    The initial success of the artists installations also led to developing the Row House Community Development Corporation and the Eldorado Ballroom that hosts community events, artists studios, and a community bike shop
-    Revitalized 22 abandoned shotgun houses into usable and innovative community spaces within one year with a cash budget of $35,000 and thousands of dollars and volunteer hours in-kind
-    Returned a historical building of great significance to Houston's African American culture to the community 

Keys to success:
-    Revitalizing the culture and heritage of the area by maintaining human-scaled development and honoring the vernacular shotgun architecture. 
-    Neighborhood and city-wide volunteers
-    Communication with the community to identify and fulfill needs.  The houses provide informal gathering places where the Project Row Houses staff can chat and meet with the surrounding residents and visitors.
-    Track record for growth and success that builds the reputation of the organization


How can you do it?
-    Map your neighborhood and locate lots of abandoned houses and consider ways of making use of them. 
-    Purchasing houses and land is key to creating space for community growth.  One reference guide for artists is Eric Rudd's The Art/Studio Loft Manual: For ambitious artists and Creators, a real estate guide for artists.
-     Involve creative people in all disciplines in the design and planning of the project