I love these scenes.

Smoketown and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Invitation for Public Comment

The Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA) invites interested citizens, organizations, and business owners to submit comments, concerns, monetary commitments, or expressions of general support for the forthcoming Neighborhood Stabilization Program Round Two (NSP-2) competitive application that will be submitted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before July 17, 2009. NSP-2 is funded under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 and is subject to all applicable provisions contained therein.

The NSP-2 proposal will target the historic Smoketown neighborhood and position the area to play a sustainable role in a revitalized economy. Smoketown is recognized as U.S. Census Tract 62, bounded by East Broadway, Logan Street, Kentucky Street, and South Brook Street. The area serves as a gateway between several thriving neighborhoods, the downtown medical community, the central business district, and the Liberty Green HOPE VI Revitalization area, and the Louisville Waterfront. LMHA will propose using public funds to acquire vacant, unoccupied residential or commercial properties, remediation of environmental hazards such as lead paint and asbestos, and to otherwise prepare sites suitable for development as housing. Non-profit and for-profit construction partners will be invited to renovate, rehabilitate, or redevelop and market these properties as energy efficient, permanent housing with long-term affordability during the thirty-six (36) month grant period. In return for reducing the risks and liability associated with an older housing stock and environmental cleanup, construction partners will incorporate “green” construction techniques, offer job opportunities for low-income citizens, training opportunities for youth, and offer project sites as professional development opportunities or local code enforcement officers.

LMHA will request no less than $5 million and affect no less than 100 housing units. If funded, neighborhood stabilization objectives will be met through both short-term and long-term redevelopment strategies. Short-term activities will include demolition of severely deteriorated or “blighted” structures and new construction or rehabilitation for residential purposes. Homebuyer assistance will be offered to households earning at or below 120% of the Area Median Income (e.g. $73,800 for a family of four). Support for existing residents will include weatherization or rehabilitation grants for existing income-qualified owner-occupants. Long-term activities will include innovative landbanking, predevelopment for small scale rental project(s), and the creation of community-friendly public improvements.

LMHA will also partner with institutional stakeholders and community advocacy groups to provide supportive services to new and existing Smoketown residents. All stakeholders are invited to discuss the Smoketown NSP-2 proposal on July 9th at 5:30 pm at Presbyterian Community Center, 701 S. Hancock Street or to submit written comments to Tim Barry, Louisville Metro Housing Authority, 420 S. 8th Street, Louisville, KY 40203 by Friday, July 10, 2009. Comments may also be submitted via email at comments@lmha1.org or TDD at 502-587-0831.

Metro Housing Website

Some useful programs that have come out of this and other funding:
Down Payment Assistance
Home Repair Program
Public Improvements Program

Maybe this photo will give us a zoning increase.

This is a pile of trash that accumulated along the fence of the house that we just moved into. It has been vacant for a few years, and was therefore a dump when we moved in (we're greening it up-- more on that later). In this blog, I want to explore the policies of this city, and how they affect the quality of life in the various neighborhoods of Louisville.