Floyd County (The Tribune)
S. Ellen Jones neighborhood selected for $6.7M grant
Federal funds will be used to rehab 40 foreclosed homes
New Albany has been awarded $6.7 million in federal funds to rehabilitate and resale 40 houses currently in foreclosure in the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood.
The announcement was made Thursday at a board of directors meeting for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, or IHCDA. The state agency oversees the allotment of federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program, or NSP, dollars.
New Albany first applied in March — one of 83 Indiana organizations and communities that sought a share of the initial $84 million federal stipend — but was turned down. But recently, more federal money was allocated to the state and New Albany, Elwood and Goshen received funding. Additionally, there will be a second wave of NSP money available later this year.
New Albany’s application — prepared by Mayor Doug England’s administration — has been awarded in full. State Rep. Ed Clere continued to push IHCDA to accept the New Albany proposal despite the initial setback.
Clere lives just a few blocks from the SEJ neighborhood and said he’s fully aware of the vacancy and foreclosure problems its facing.
“I want to say that I commend the city, the mayor and his administration for making the original application and continuing to advocate for the funds,” Clere said. “As a realtor, I’ve worked with individuals and families in foreclosure and I’ve dealt with the aftermath of foreclosure in that neighborhood and seen its effect on the neighborhood and the community as a whole.”
Ted Fulmore, president of the S. Ellen Jones Neighborhood Association, described the grant as being the best news the neighborhood has ever received.
“This kind of investment — to help remedy some of those issues and get those homes into the hands of homeowners — is just amazing,” Fulmore said.
The grant is worth about half of New Albany’s annual city budget. Low-to-moderate income families will get first priority after the homes are rehabbed.
Improving the SEJ neighborhood with its proximity to downtown New Albany strengthens the revitalization push the city is experiencing, Fulmore said.
“I really think New Albany is on a roll. The downtown has changed so much in the past few years, so many amenities have been added,” he said. “It makes perfect sense for these neighborhoods to now take off and benefit from the addition of those amenities.”
Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz said the grant is the largest one the city has ever received toward private housing.
“The bottom line is despite the fact that it took quite awhile to get approval, we are just absolutely tickled that we received this assistance. It’s really huge for that neighborhood,” he said.
- Floyd County (The Tribune)
-
-
New Albany man faces battery, strangulation charges
A New Albany man faces two preliminary felony counts in connection with an incident involving him and a 28-year-old woman.
-
LENT TRADITION
-
The fight over tax-increment financing
The fresh pavement on Daisy Lane, the businesses fed by an expanded Charlestown Road and the downtown bank buildings that top New Albany’s skyline all have something in common — they were driven by tax-increment financing.
-
Preparing to say goodbye
With some tears and hugs, those at the four schools slated for closure this year in Floyd County are dealing with the news and preparing to move on.
-
THE TRIBUNE BRIEFS: March 12, 2010
The New Albany-Floyd County Public Library is offering a free workshop on Interviewing skills from 2 to 3 p.m. March 24 in the Strassweg Auditorium, 180 West Spring St., New Albany.
-
STINKY SITUATION: Sewer board hears public complaints about proposed rate hike Presentations, testimonies display wastewater revenue is falling far short of expenses
The dozens of overhead slides, hours of testimony and stack of handouts the Sewer Board presented Thursday basically boiled down to one message — wastewater revenue is falling far short of expenses.
-
SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE
Hundreds of people sat on the edge of their seats Thursday night anxiously awaiting the few little words that meant so much.
-
Job opportunities decline in Louisville Metro
Louisville Metro’s total employment is at its lowest level since 1997, a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study showed Wednesday.
-
THE TRIBUNE BRIEFS: March 11, 2010
The Floyd County Extension Homemakers Scholarship Program deadline is March 15.
-
Owner of dogs that attacked neighbor’s pet faces fine
A New Albany man has been charged with violating two city ordinances after his two pit bull mix dogs attacked a neighbor’s golden retriever and then ran into their home. Albert Cross, 40, of the 1900 block of Culbertson Avenue, was charged by New Albany-Floyd County Animal Control with harboring a dangerous animal and harboring an animal with no license.
- More Floyd County (The Tribune) Headlines
-
New Albany man faces battery, strangulation charges
