Chike Achebe, a Harvard law graduate, has left corporate law to take a more hands-on approach to housing difficulties in his hometown of Irvington, New Jersey.
To restore public housing, beginning with the Camptown Gardens complex, the 32-year-old is equipped with legal insight and practical skills acquired from his father. While growing up near the complex, he also witnessed firsthand the struggles encountered by tenants living in subpar conditions.
Despite the challenges he faced, he acknowledged that his education and upbringing prepared him for success, including his admission to Harvard Law School.
He told NJ.com, “They invested in me. And now I want to double down on the investment that people made in me.”
Leaving a career in corporate law, he established Legacy Development Partners, specializing in affordable home renovation. His dedication to housing originates from his idea that housing serves as a foundation for solving societal challenges such as crime and addiction. “Housing is my passion,” he stated.
Combining legal knowledge with practical experience from his father, a contractor, Achebe oversees projects from beginning to end, making sure that improvements live up to his high standards.
Though the young entrepreneur understands that his current job choice may not match his parents’ expectations, he added, “I don’t think they’re totally against it. But I do think they know that I am much more happy doing stuff I am passionate about.”
Even though the Irvington Housing Authority has been facing difficulties since it was taken over by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Achebe recently demonstrated his commitment to enhancing living conditions for Camptown Gardens residents by landing a contract with the organization.
“Those teachers invested in me, and there’s nothing that I could do to pay them back. But I’m going to invest in someone else,” Achebe declared.
