Hazelwood Initiative's mission is "building a stronger Hazelwood through inclusive community development". One of the ways we have sought to expand on this mission is through the purchase of the Gladstone School. After an open bid was conducted by the School Board, HI was awarded the rights to purchase the school in 2015. After a subsequent and lengthy legal proceeding regarding the sale, HI was finally permitted to continue with the neighborhood plan of increasing affordable housing and move forward with plans to develop this site in March of 2019. Since then, HI has worked collectively with residents and planners to develop a design that will result in 53 total units, 44 of which will be permanently affordable housing. 

In August of 2020, Hazelwood Initiative and its development partner - the Community Builders - secured the PA Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to begin this transformation. The organization is now in the process of finalizing construction plans and looks forward to the first residents moving in around fall 2023.