Woman acquires apartment complex

SANDUSKY — A businesswoman recently made the biggest addition to her expanding empire. And it's also a huge step forward, she said, in offering local residents with affordable options amid a housing crisis affecting many nationwide. Through her property management company, P5ive Properties, Mercedez Pickens acquired a residential complex known as Camp Street Townhomes & Apartments. On Camp Street, it's located just south of the Sandusky Amtrak station. She's the sole investor of the property, totaling about $1.65 million in purchase price. Her realtor, Mary Giles of North Bay Realty, noted this marks one of the largest residential-related investments made by a minority woman in Sandusky's history. Camp Street Townhomes & Apartments represents the latest residential-related investment made by Pickens in Sandusky. She's purchased multiple properties leading up to her latest commitment. Pickens credited her support network — which consists of her husband, DeRon Pickens, and property manager, LaRone Knight — with helping her make this investment. "Purchasing this 30-unit complex is not only a major milestone for my real estate portfolio, but I also plan on bringing things similar to this to our community," said Pickens, noting the 30 units encompass six townhomes. "I don't want to announce them just yet, but good things are coming." Among the initial tasks Pickens wants to tackle revolve around making sorely needed upgrades across the property for quality-of-life purposes. She seeks to elevate the experience for tenants calling this property home. "We are currently discussing renovation costs based on each project," said Pickens, a 2006 Sandusky High School graduate. "We are discussing exterior renovations, of which we are very excited about, along with making improvements within the building walls." There's no time frame for when work could start or end. "We are eager to get started as soon as possible," Pickens said. People can email pfiveproperties@gmail.com for more information. Facing the crisis Whether locally or across the state and nation, a frequent concern expressed by people — especially those in the lower and middle classes — relates to affordable housing. It's an issue important to Pickens and a main reason why she pursued this property. For starters, Pickens aspires to work with existing tenants to ensure a smooth transition during an ownership change. She wants them to "continue to occupy their units as they were." In the bigger picture, she'd like to make a larger impact. "There is a housing and rental shortage we are all aware of," Pickens said. "I would like to help alleviate this barrier as much as I can." This could involve her possibly buying additional buildings and keeping them affordable for locals. Giles, who supports many community efforts and fundraisers, intends to continue collaborating with Pickens on those aspirations. "Mercedez is the definition of not only a hard worker in her multiple businesses but someone that also has a heart of gold," Giles said. "With the shortage of inventory and the way the housing market may fluctuate, it can make it hard for people to find apartments to rent or homes to purchase. We're doing everything we can to assist with this issue. This is a step in the right direction." Bio blast Pickens provided some background about her rise as an entrepreneur. She invests, in large part, to provide for her family. She's the mother of three children. She and DeRon are raising Yania, Jazlene and DeRon Jr. Pickens originally worked in health care, which, professionally, started her passion for helping people. She served as a certified nursing assistant, a state-tested nursing assistant and a personal care assistant before moving on to administrative roles in the field. "With each title I held, I worked diligently to make a change for those affected by my leadership," Pickens said. Pickens then sought a new challenge, transitioning to a career in business. She founded her first company, VIP Supreme Staffing. It's a medical staffing agency. "The first two years, I made so many mistakes as the owner of VIP, but those mistakes and experiences helped me become a better entrepreneur," said Pickens, who now runs VIP Home Healthcare, a private-pay home health service; VIP Medical Academy, a career college providing certificates in the medical field; and P5ive Properties, which DeRon also oversees. Even though Pickens resides in Columbus, her business interests greatly involve improving life and opportunities for those in Sandusky. "Sandusky holds a special place in my heart because it's the place I grew up; the place where I started my family; the place where my other family members still reside; and a place that holds a lot of my childhood memories," she said. Giles considers Pickens, first, as a friend and then, second, as a client. She's ecstatic for what she's embarking upon. "It is astonishing to watch Mercedez grow her real estate portfolio, diversifying it the way she has, especially in a short amount of time," Giles said. "I love that she and her husband invest their time and resources back into our community." What's in a name? Here's an explanation of the meaning behind P5ive Properties, a property management company overseen by spouses DeRon and Mercedez Pickens: • The No. 5 within P5ive pays homage to the Pickens' family. There are five within the nuclear family: parents, DeRon and Mercedez; and their children, Yania, Jazlene and DeRon Jr. • Both words begin with a P, a nod to their last name, Pickens • When read aloud, it goes "P-five Properties"