WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Neighborhood project to clean up foreclosed and abandoned homes

Neighborhood project to clean up foreclosed and abandoned homes

By Shayla Reaves - bio | email     

Posted by Alane Paulley - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - We're committed to following any efforts to help us all get out of the mess the economy has created.We've told you in past stories about home foreclosure rates in Louisville are up although not as much as they are in some places.

But even one can create an eyesore in your neighborhood and some areas here have many.WAVE 3's Shayla Reaves has more on new program that could bring results to your neighborhood.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is sponsored by the Federal government and city officials say Louisville qualified for cash.

The five areas officials identified for investment are Smoketown/Shelby Park, Shawnee, Portland, Park du Valle and Newburg.

The money will pay for demolition or rehabilitation of abandoned homes, vacant lots and foreclosed properties in these neighborhoods.

"This is an unprecedented opportunity to address foreclosure and abandonment and distressed areas," said Jeana Dunlap of the Louisville Metro Department of Housing and Community Development.

Louisville is slated to receive 7 million dollars in federal funds to target neighborhoods where foreclosure rates are high. We took a ride through Shelby Park with neighbors so they could show us exactly where the dollars are needed.

"This house has been boarded up for more than three years," said Ann Ames, a board member of the Shelby Park Neighborhood Association.

"34 years ago this was a tree lined street," said Anna Wooldridge Shelby Park Neighborhood Association president and longtime Camp Street resident.""Everybody took care of each other and watched out for each other."

At one time people lived in all the homes on Camp Street and Woolridge says residents once hosted Halloween parties and neighborhood block parties for kids. It's something she says she doesn't see much anymore.

"Now the housing has changed, a lot of people died, property changed hands, a lot of renters are in and now it is just going down hill," she said.

Woolridge and Ames hope the new stabilization program can change that.

"If you'll look you'll see some really nice houses, but when you come through and you see houses that are boarded up that are not being lived in, you don't want to invest in that property," said Ames.

"It's going to be better. I'm hoping to continue to live here on this block and hopefully we'll see change," Woolridge told WAVE 3 News.

We're told the dollars are not marked for foreclosure prevention and you cannot get individual help to pay for your rent or mortgage.Still some funds are available if you want to purchase a blighted home or foreclosed building.

Materials are available for review at any time at the office of Louisville Metro Housing and Family Services at 745 West Main Street, third floor. Comments can be sent to the project direct Jeana Dunlap at 574-3107 or jeana.dunlap@louisvilleky.gov.