Meet Lori Appeldoorn

The coronavirus pandemic affected more aspects of life than many could have imagined. Lori and David Appledoorn have been waiting for months to find treated wood at hardware stores. They checked in stores multiple times a week because they’ve got a vision for a new fence in the alley behind their home. They share this alley with all the homes on their side of 18th Street as well as those on the north side of 19th Street. For the Appledoorns, improvement projects in the alley is a way of life. Finally, in early November, the materials they needed arrived.

The Appeldoorns’ passion for their alleyway was the avenue that ultimately led to leadership with 3sixty. After a successful grant project with the City of Holland and 3sixty, Lori joined the Neighborhood Advocacy Team.  

Although neighbors on 18th and 19th streets have always shared the same alley, it wasn’t until they started cleaning it up and planting flowers that they also started sharing life. What could have remained a daily frustration of sharing tight quarters became a joint project that delivered beauty and connection. Lori says the neighbors on the alleyway are in frequent communication, mostly texting and talking in person over their fences. They also share a neighborhood cat who meanders as he pleases in a couple-block radius.

Last summer, the alley neighbors applied for a City of Holland grant to build raised garden beds in the alley. The work included art by Holland’s Cultureworks students and culminated with a socially distanced party this summer.

“We are the sweat equity,” David says. The Appeldoorns appreciate the stability of 3sixty and its ongoing relationship with the City to funnel support to people willing to put work into their community. The City wants to maintain and improve neighborhoods and it has the resources to help. 3sixty offers momentum and accountability to get work done. And people like the Appeldoorns and their neighbors take that support to make their visions a reality.

For the Appeldoorns, investing in the character and integrity of the old homes that comprise Eastcore is the means to help the neighborhood grow and develop without leaving anyone behind. Lori says she expects many homes will begin needing major foundation work, which is likely to be out of budget for as many residents. Lori and Dave are also concerned with the increasing number of house fires in Eastcore. What is the trajectory for a neighborhood that routinely sees homes demolished and replaced with all new construction? How will this affect the neighborhood character and demographics? These are real questions for the neighborhood leaders who are ready and able to help make answers.

One of David’s ideas is a kind of coaching for new homeowners on what kind of home repairs are worth investment, and how to do them. This is a natural overlap with the 3sixty Tool Library. Neighbors can pay an annual fee and checkout almost any tool they would need for common home repairs and maintenance.

Lori loves the mature trees in Eastcore as well as the incredible walkability to places like the library, the hospital, the aquatic center, schools, parks, and more. David agrees and repeats “location, location, location.” They love the heated sidewalk on Central that leads right downtown. They love the diversity of people and lifestyles in the community.

Eastcore was the only place the Appledoorns could afford a home as newlyweds 30 years ago. They found a fixer-upper and raised their two kids (now 23 and 26-years-old) here. Back when they were home searching, they would have loved somewhere with more room to garden. Now, that personal desire for green space led to improving a shared space and forming deep relationships amongst neighbors. David is developing multiple variations of rain barrels he hopes to teach neighbors about, while another neighbor is prepared to teach folks how to dry herbs using herbs grown in the alley garden beds.

Lori thinks the structure of 3sixty is important. She says every corner of every town should have something like it. With a belief that most people have something to give to and to gain from their neighbors, Lori likes how approachable 3sixty is. She wants to help advertise and clarify what 3sixty is in Eastcore so that more people can get connected.

With pretreated wood finally available, the Appledoorns joyfully begin digging holes for an artistic fence in the alley. The fence is on the neighbor’s lot directly behind the Appledorn home. Also in the small plot of land are a few rhododendron bushes donated by a local nursery. Lori views the entire alley as a shared space for all Eastcore. She says it gives people a break and a nice place to be. 

While a global pandemic continues to strain daily life and the federal government often feels tumultuous and distant, Lori ardently believes in the role of neighborhood leadership. Improving your immediate surroundings with the people who happen to be where you are too is the way to control and enjoy what you can.

“If you’ve got to be happy,” Lori says, “It’s got to start right here, right now.”