Owensboro’s Northwest Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) has been identified as the next area to receive funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Partnership programs. The decision to allocate funding toward this multi-million dollar project next followed a market analysis and community survey that assessed the needs, strategies and goals for the City’s 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) required the City of Owensboro to conduct a market analysis of the northwest area, comprised of 1,000 structures, and the city contracted with Bowen National Research to complete the study.
Abby Shelton, Owensboro’s community development director, reviewed data from the analysis and community survey to highlight the northwest area’s top three needs: Increase and maintain affordable housing stock, support and invest in economic growth and provide other non-homeless public services.
To qualify as a HUD NRSA, at least 51 percent of the area’s population must meet low enough household income standards. In November, Shelton announced that Owensboro’s northwest NRSA greatly exceeded that threshold, with around 76 percent of its inhabitants falling at or below HUD’s poverty line.
In a study conducted several months ago, the city found that only one of 1,000 structures in the northwest NRSA were determined to be in excellent structural condition.
This NRSA project will focus on several different aspects of improvement for northwest Owensboro, including existing homeowner exterior rehabilitation, landscape beautification, business facade exterior rehab, demolition and affordable housing incentives. Interior rehabilitation does not qualify.
Some who live in northwest Owensboro have gotten a jumpstart on beautifying the area. Volunteers with the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance spearheaded a beautification project for Kendall-Perkins Park in November, where they planted a variety of trees and shrubbery to improve the park’s landscaping.
The survey conducted by Shelton and her team revealed a variety of concerns from those living in northwest Owensboro. Some of the most prevalent issues identified included stagnant growth, safety issues and crime, drugs, a lack of green spaces, a lack of business opportunities, the appearance and quality of housing stock, a lack of affordable housing, a lack of shopping facilities, poor street and alley maintenance, litter, a lack of housing maintenance, a lack of community life, loitering/transients and the Cadillac Motel.
“In addition, there was an interest in extending a safe walkway down First Street to connect downtown and English Park,” she said.
Shelton said there are several possible programs that can address those concerns, including public infrastructure, housing rehabilitation, new construction, rental rehabilitation, slum and blight elimination, financial and housing education and homebuyers financing.
Shelton also confirmed that increased lighting in the northwest area would be one of the focuses.
As the current NRSA project, Triplett Twist, wraps up in June 2020, the northwest NRSA project will kick off July 1, with the intent to start in September. Shelton said applications for the exterior rehab program will soon be available at City Hall. Qualification will depend mostly on income, she added.
Landlords will be subject to the same funding requirements, but will not be allowed to raise their rents on rehabbed properties. However, homeowners who receive exterior rehab on their properties may be subject to higher property taxes as the value of their home increases.
The city’s Property Maintenance Department is striving to address homes in need of demolition rather than rehab, Shelton said, adding that the community should call City Action to make sure properties with such issues are made known.
In late 2019, Shelton said the northwest NRSA project was expected to receive at least $1.7 million in public funds and $3.1 million in private funds. Rehab and beautification is expected to take around five years to complete.
