RubberBuzz || Akron Unleashed: Revitalization

7.25.2005

Revitalization

I'm totally into urban renewal. There are so many hyper-hot places around Akron, that it's really a shame to see people leave this history for new homes in the 'burbs. Luckily, there are some programs that enable people to put money back into their homes and revitalize Akron bit by bit. Here's what's happening in Parkgate.

Through the program, the city makes $7,500 available to homeowners as a grant and makes another $7,500 available that doesn't have to be repaid until [the homeowner] sells the home.

The city also helped arranged low-interest loans...

The Neighborhood Initiative Program is just one of several the city has available to fix up aging homes using federal Community Development Block Grant funds and other federal funds.

That particular program designates a neighborhood to become part of the program.

There are eligibility requirements, and the Parkgate neighborhood -- bounded to the north by Woodbine Avenue, to the east by Sheldon Drive, to the south by Jefferson Avenue and to the west by Hawkins Avenue -- was the only one in the generally prosperous 8th Ward to meet federal qualifications for improvement because at least half the households were at or below 80 percent of the city's median income for a family of four: $60,312.

Awesome. We need more programs like this. This gets the citizens involved in their neighborhoods and makes it affordable to create a nice place to live. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of this in the city.

The BJ :: West Akron neighborhood gets face-lift

(joe :: Revitalization)

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