For seven years, Manyell Akinfe-Reed and her family worked to purchase two City-owned lots next to property her family already owned and maintained on Meadow Street in Larimer.
The process was supposed to take six months to a year. Instead, it stretched across seven years. An application went missing and had to be resubmitted. An approval communicated in 2020 did not arrive in writing until 2022, and when it did, it covered the wrong number of lots. Misunderstanding spurred miscommunication during the entire process. One roadblock after another made it difficult to succeed.
Through it all, Manyell kept going.
The offices of Mayor Ed Gainey and Councilman Khari Mosley both stepped in with resources and support that opened doors for Manyell. In May 2025, she connected with Neighborhood Allies’ Senior Program Manager for Real Estate Development Glenn Grayson Jr.
Glenn reviewed the documents Manyell had collected and helped make sense of what was needed. He helped Manyell understand the numbers and advocated for the simplest and least expensive path to closing. Along the way, Glenn served as both an advocate and a guide.
By summer 2026, Manyell closed on both lots.
“Glenn collapsed years of waiting.”
Now the land stays with Manyell’s family, and the family can build on it when they are financially ready.
“This is the kind of work that really makes an impact. His advocacy and direction were key in getting me to the finish line. My family is forever grateful to Glenn and to Neighborhood Allies.”
