Mayor gives house keys to winner of home giveaway
LOUISVILLE (July 15, 2005) - Mayor Jerry Abramson today gave Rebecca Welch keys to a mortgage-free home in the Newburg neighborhood, one of 80 houses that Metro Government and nonprofit organizations are in the process of rehabbing there since launching a neighborhood revitalization effort last year.
Welch won the home at 5013 Yew Lane in a drawing at last year’s Greater Louisville Home Ownership Expo. Previously a vacant, landlord-owned house in need of repair, Metro Government purchased the house for $55,000 and made $36,000 in renovations. The renovations are part of Abramson’s multi-agency initiative to increase home ownership, enhance property condition and value, and reduce crime in the Newburg area.
“Through partnerships with many public agencies and non-profit organizations, we’ve been able to start addressing many challenges in this neighborhood,” Abramson said. “What better way to start changing the tide than by having more people own homes and take pride in where they live.”
Abramson said the Louisville Metro Housing Department, Neighborhoods Department, Inspections, Permits & Licenses, Metro Parks, Community Action Partnership, and Police have joined with several nonprofit organizations, businesses and Newburg residents in the revitalization.
Highlights of the revitalization include:
Housing Improvements
— 18 homes rehabbed
— 49 new roofs on homes
— 13 homes weatherized
— New Directions Housing Corporation, YouthBuild, UPS and Kentuckiana Roofing assisting Metro Government with home improvements
— Approximately $1 million public-private investment
Brenda Drive Property
— Wooded area will be cleaned and drainage and infrastructure improvements made to prepare for the development of 24 newly constructed houses; Cosby Construction and Housing Partnership Inc. leading the development
— $1.17 million public-private development
Financial Assistance
— 9 households provided down-payment assistance through Louisville Metro Housing
— PNC, National City, Fifth Third Bank, Louisville Urban League and New Directions Housing providing financial-counseling programs
Metro Parks
— Newburg Community Center enhanced with increased youth and senior programming, extended hours during winter and spring breaks and the addition of a new weight room
— Petersburg Park enhanced with ballfield improvements, new scoreboard and fencing
Law Enforcement
— New 6th Division sub-station located at 4711 Progress Boulevard
— Louisville Metro Police partnering with U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on programs such as Weed & Seed and Project Backfire
Upcoming
— Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin planning a series of community cleanup blitzes, beginning August 19
— Louisville Metro Housing working with The Corradino Group to develop plans for a new Newburg community center
For more information visit the Department of Housing website. Or call 502-574-3107.