Repairing properties along Bowmar and Grove streets is a goal that has been set by the Heritage Guild of Vicksburg and Warren County — a local organization founded by seven women who are dedicated to preserving properties and historic places in the River City.

On Monday, the group held an introductory meeting and presentation at the Vicksburg Auditorium to present their vision. More than 100 people were in attendance.

Joyce Clingan, one of the founding members of the non-profit organization, opened the meeting by giving an overview of the Heritage Guild’s objectives, which has included doing research into what other cities are doing across the country for their vacant and blighted neighborhoods.

“We are trying to transplant what Vicksburg Main Street is doing into our neighborhoods,” Clingan said.

The guild, Clingan added is not to infringe on any other group, but to aid in preserving historical structures and neighborhood revitalization.

Bowmar and Grove streets were chosen as the guild’s first project since both have schools.

“We are working with the City and the Vicksburg School District to make the areas around the schools as beautiful as the inside.”

The hope is that by making the areas around the schools more attractive, young families will be impressed and attracted to Vicksburg, Clingan said.

Keri Coumanis, the assistant city attorney for the City of Mobile had been invited by the Heritage Guild to speak at Monday’s meeting on how her city has been able to get people back into vacant and dilapidated homes, so the city would not have to continue to use tax dollars to maintain the property.

In a power point presentation, Coumanis presented pictures of the building that had been revitalized in Mobile and explained how these homes are making areas vital again.

In addition to serving as the assistant city attorney, Coumanis also manages the selection, acquisition and disposition of theses properties for the City of Mobile’s “Revolving Funds and Neighborhood Renewal” program, and she handles all legal work necessary to attain marketable and clear title for properties held in the City’s land bank,

In order for Vicksburg to obtain clear title for properties that are abandoned, Clingan said legislation would need to be implemented in order to have quiet titles available.

A quiet title is a legal mechanism that makes it possible to grant a clear title to a single owner when there is the potential for several different claims to ownership.

This, Coumanis said, makes it easier for a developer to purchase the property and added, “Everything is sold with a rehabilitation agreement.”

For anyone interested in becoming involved with the Heritage Guild of Vicksburg & Warren County email heritageguildvbg@aol.com.

The group also meets weekly at 12:30 p.m. Mondays at Walnut Hills.

“Just email to let us know you are coming,” Clingan said.