Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian K Rice.
Brian K, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always dreamed of moving back to my hometown of Birmingham, AL after living in several cities and states to help restore the under served community I am from. When I would visit Birmingham around 2008 while living in Charlotte, I would literally cry driving through and seeing so many distressed homes and neighborhoods. I could never shake this pain so I spent the next year, 12 to 14 hours a day writing comprehensive development plans from in a coffee shop that would address community economic development, youth & adult education development, crime prevention, and overall community development plans and exactly a decade plus later, I never lost my dreams. My fight for community development just recently went viral through international news with BBC World News out of London, UK. People in other countries have been reaching out to see if they can help and that is super inspiring. I have not found resources for all 8 buildings but there is progress. The first part of the vision is to build up a stronger economy with the block of 8 commercial buildings I purchased. I will then use the profits to create the entrepreneurship, workforce and character development programs i believe the community need in phase 1.
Has it been a smooth road?
My story in Birmingham, AL has become the face of unfair lending in Black communities across the United States. BBC World News heard my cry for help over 4000 miles away in London. You can see a link to story on my personal website or directly from the attached link https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53473239?fbclid=IwAR1zro9Edo0ifC4cWQeT7CYvGc31gqlh3fi6JoxI6gtg1ETnAKJ0dGcdONs
“I bought 8 Historic Commercial buildings and I know this area is ripe for gentrification and I want people in the community to benefit from future developments. I went to a local lending institution and they rejected me because the area is poor and marginalized. The reason there isn’t enough capital in the community is because the lending institutions will not finance anyone who own properties in the community. Secondly, I know the appraisal I received, no real estate professional can understand why it exist to compare my 8 commercial buildings to farm land unless they were intentionally trying to lower the value of my property where they appraised my 8 buildings at $0 and only gave me $1.02 sf for the land. Third, I love helping people and I was not asking anyone to contribute or donate anything to me, I was trying to obtain a loan that was going to help the bank and help me. I was not asking for a handout. The City of Birmingham that talks about revitalization and putting wealth back into the community are giving business owners and developers from outside of the community money to revitalize the area and not with people who own businesses inside the community that would not only add wealth to my business but all the business owners around me.
I think it is critical that people know that “the greatest challenge for African Americans to develop their communities is access to resources. We have to create bridges for a better tomorrow that didn’t exist when we arrived. If unfair banking is removed from my story, all 8 historic buildings would be renovated and there would be thriving businesses in them that improve the community. I need people to know that I and others need help from the outside that can contribute until equality is equal. It has been a 2 year journey and I still need others to help me in the form of donations or as an investor who partners on the vision to move this community forward. We can restore our communities.”
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am currently recruiting others to help me develop the 8 buildings by giving or investing in this community to help create needed restaurants, private & shared office spaces and host of needed businesses that build up this community. For me it is important to bring positive creative energy here and that is why I am dedicating at least one building to the arts. It’s important for me know that area artists have spaces to develop, create and exhibit. It is also important that we have spaces dedicated to videography, photography, podcasting and others. One key vision is launching a space that will be dedicated to women entrepreneurs that will be led by women. I can’t share my grand idea for the men yet but I’m excited to know that my story is reaching others and maybe others from the area or outside the city will help me complete all 8 buildings on the block.
We have to create a thriving environment for entrepreneurs as well as an environment where the next generation can see success in their community. We are our greatest investment. I’m fighting for my community and I need you to help me fight. I’m super proud of my Birmingham neighbors who don’t have much but they drop off lunch and donations unannounced to help me keep going because they know the unfair obstacles I have faced and they believe in me. This encourages me like no other to keep moving forward. I’m glad I never lost my dream. I’m so close to the first finished block.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
For me living in Birmingham, Atlanta is our future. Atlanta is the place for ideas. Atlanta has lessons that I can learn from as I move forward in Birmingham.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.briankrice.com
- Email: brice@briankrice.com
- Instagram: MrBrianKRice
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCommunityEngineer/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/briankrice
Image Credit:
All images are of Brian K. Rice on the block of commercial buildings he owns. 1 Picture shows Brian looking in an abandoned building as he is trying to decide the next building to invest in.
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