By Wendy Dwyer

For Hometown News

Warren Sapp is a big man - whether he's wearing shoulder pads and cleats or just wearing a T-shirt and sweats and stepping out of his SUV.

The nearly 300 pound linebacker for the Oakland Raiders isn't just big in size and stature - his heart is really big too, as indicated in his plans for fort Pierce.

After pulling down a giant tackle on Sunday afternoon that helped beat the Miami Dolphins, the Orlando-born Mr. Sapp took a drive on Monday morning to visit the Moore's Creek area of Fort Pierce, just off Avenue D, in a place many locals avoid like the plague.

Mr. Sapp wanted to visit the place where he's focusing his finances and his passion these days - Moore's Creek. Mr. Sapp is a partner in a small development company called Urban Solutions.

Comprised of partners and pals, Mr. Sapp, Steve Smoke and former Atlanta Falcons safety Devin Bush, the group specializes in providing affordable and unique housing in an urban setting.

The idea behind the Moore's Creek project is to promote redevelopment in an economically distressed area.

Moore's Creek is a large area of Fort Pierce located adjacent to Avenue D and stretching in a mostly westward direction in what is typically considered a blighted section of the city.

Mr. Sapp and his partners, however, have done intense research and find the area to have great potential for rebirth and revitalization.

As a result of the partnership between Urban Solutions Group and National City Bank, National City will be able to offer qualified end buyers a 1.5 percent discount off mortgage interest rates.

National City vice president Aileen Pruitt, who is also the executive director of the Community Development Association of Central and Northeast Florida, says of the partnership, "We are definitely committed to providing affordable housing in this area. There are definite qualifications potential homeowners must meet, but we're really excited about the opportunity to help revitalize the area."

Mrs. Pruitt says National City Bank, which formerly operated as Harbor Federal, is able to offer these innovative lending opportunities, that were not available prior to the merger with National City.

In an effort to help provide affordable workforce housing, Urban Solutions and National City Bank are able to offer up to $80,000 in down payment assistance to qualified borrowers for the Moore's Creek project only, with no closing costs and the 1.5 percent discount on interest rates.

Flexible credit standards will be used, meaning that borrowers need not have super-high credit scores. Consideration will be given to borrowers even if there are some bumps in their credit history.

State Housing Initiative Partnership and HOP funds are also available to help ensure the homes will be affordable to members of the workforce.

"We did a great deal of research on the need in this community and came up for a visit," said Mr. Sapp.

"What I saw blew me away, and I knew we had to do something to help make this a neighborhood that thrives once again, like it used to."

Mr. Sapp, a father of two who admits that Urban Solutions' venture will likely never be a high-profit investment, says making money is not what's important.

"It's about helping people who need to be helped. It's about doing what you're supposed to do in life," he said.

"If we do end up making a couple dollars on this," he laughed, "we'll probably use it to buy a few more trees or vacuum cleaners, or whatever it takes to keep the neighborhood looking good and feeling like home to residents."

Urban Solutions has already purchased 50 lots in the Moore's Creek area, and has 50 more under contract.

In addition to putting new homes on the city sites, the group is also working with current homeowners to spruce up, repaint, landscape and beautify the properties already in the neighborhood. The homes, which are being built by Palm Harbor Homes, are designed to fit in with the flavor of the neighborhood," said Palm Harbor's Senior Vice President of sales and marketing, Mike Wnek.

"These homes are being built with the same quality, attention to detail and care Palm Harbor uses on the million dollar homes we build. They are built to withstand hurricanes and extreme weather and retain their beauty and character," he said.

Mr. Wnek said they hope the homes will be occupied by teachers, law enforcement officials, professionals and their families.

Within just a couple of weeks, four homes should be in place directly across the street from the Fort Pierce Police Department's Avenue D Substation and an office will be open so members of the community can come and scope out the project and the models.

The homes, which are typically three to four bedroom, are single-story pre-fabricated homes, which are shipped to the area in sections and are placed on foundations by contractor Don Santos and his crew, utilizing a crane.

Mr. Santos has been instrumental in ensuring that permits, paperwork and code issues are followed to the letter of the law, and says the homes are not only beautiful, but are also strong, affordable and have great personality.

It's likely that 50 homes will be completed in the first six months of the program.

In all, there are 264 lots in the Moore's Creek area available for housing, so National City expects to be working with other developers as the program continues.

Ajia Harris, who works with Urban Solutions, said weekly seminars have already begun to help educate the community on the innovative financing options, and more will be scheduled as the project develops.

The first meeting was attended by 67 individuals, most seeking to learn about qualification for the program. She's working to get the word out through local churches, organizations and groups.

For Mr. Sapp, it's the realization of a dream to help people. Standing in the rain watching the foundation blocks laid for the first home being built, the man who spends his days working out and running headfirst into collision looks more like a gentle giant than a world-class athlete.

"This project - it's a give back from the heart," said Mr. Sapp.

"We are all committed to helping and hope the community will support us in any way it can. We did our homework on this. We know there is a need in Fort Pierce and for me, this is one way I can help give something back."

Interested parties are welcome to contact National City residential loan officers Arlene Newson at (772) 467-3244, or Rose Noble at (772) 293-6073, to learn more about the program and the homes. To reach Urban Solutions, contact (772) 475-9308.