Creating Neighborhood Masterpieces with Mona Lisa Development
12:00pm on Jun 23 2020
via Zoom
A rehabber Q&A with Detroit-based development, consulting & construction firm partners Monique Becker and Elyse Wolf!
As you’re working on your own home repair project, gaining understanding and inspiration from other rehabbers is key. We’ll talk with Monique & Elyse about navigating the rehab of their 1920s properties, community impact, and how to preserve place and people while doing development. Bring your questions!
Mona Lisa is a Detroit-based development, consulting & construction firm. Mona Lisa works as both owner/developer and as advisor, thinking critically about impact on the community and environment. Mona Lisa Development is motivated to preserve place and people in the creation of neighborhood masterpieces.
Mona Lisa owns and operates two homes they’ve rehabbed, Hazelwood Home (1922) in the Virginia Park neighborhood and The Lin (1923) in LaSalle Gardens. They are in the process of rehabbing their 3rd home, Whlgn House (1919), in a partnership with respected artist & community leader, Tony Whlgn.
About the Speakers:
Monique Becker is a Detroiter, community organizer and former educator who strives to combat inequities in all that she does. Prior to founding Mona Lisa Development, she worked on deals diverse in size, type and funding source with The Platform and Shelborne Development. Monique is also currently the Manager of Program Implementation for Building Community Value's Better Buildings Better Blocks real estate developing training course. When she is not working, you can find Monique harmonizing the feng shui of her home, thrift shopping for vintage finds or basking in the architecture of a beautiful building.
Elyse Wolf centers her philosophy around supporting cooperative communities as a neighbor in Virginia Park, a rehabber and a rookie gardener. Elyse served as her grandfather’s apprentice in the renovation of two century-old homes and now, continues this legacy as the qualified officer for Mona Lisa Construction LLC. Prior to launching Mona Lisa Development, Elyse worked as a Process Improvement Project Manager at Meridian Health Plan and led solution-oriented initiatives that would improve operations across the enterprise. Elyse is also a board member of 360 Detroit Inc., and volunteers her time with neighborhood beautification projects and community programming. In her personal time, Elyse enjoys experimenting in the kitchen with fermented food recipes, piloting new garden designs and cozying up with her nose in a book.
Registration:
Pay what you can to register-- donations are suggested and appreciated!
Suggested donations:
$5+ for residents of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park
$8+ for Metro Detroit residents
$10+ if you live outside of Michigan