Kokomo city officials are now accepting applications from near east side residents, as part of a continuing revitalization program.
Over the next year, the city expects to spend more than $900,000 in federal grant funds on a variety of programs, including home improvement, rental rehabilitation and sidewalk replacement.
The target neighborhood is bounded by Washington Street starting at Wildcat Creek, and runs from Jefferson to Delphos streets, and includes Sycamore, Faulkner, Superior, Waugh, Maple, and at Jay streets, south to Wildcat Creek.
“This represents a tremendous investment in one of Kokomo’s oldest neighborhoods,” said Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight. “This neighborhood is a gateway to downtown, but unfortunately, it’s been plagued by blighted properties and substandard housing. Our citizens deserve better.”
Residents can apply for the following projects:
• Exterior home improvement: grants for up to 90 percent to 100 percent of total exterior repair costs. Can be used for new siding, roofing, porches, doors and windows.
• Rental rehabilitation: grants for up to 30 percent to 70 percent of total exterior repair costs.
• Sidewalk reconstruction, the largest pot of money to be spent, which will replace 1.5 miles of sidewalk in the neighborhood. Walnut Street from Apperson to Delphos will be reconstructed, as will the stretch of Delphos between Sycamore and Jefferson streets.
• Neighborhood blight removal is a continuing city program which razes unsafe structures, and removes slum and blight conditions from the area.
Homeowners and landlords interested in receiving grants for exterior repair and improvement programs can contact the Department of Development at 456-7375, or by e-mailing development@ cityofkokomo.org.
Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Complete information on each program is available at www.cityofkokomo.org /development.
Goodnight called the low-income target area a highly visible gateway to the city.
“We wanted to hit a targeted area, predominately along Apperson Way, but also out to the east side,” Goodnight said in March. “We want people to see the visual, positive impact of what the program can do. Next year, you can see these blocks and hopefully notice the difference, before and after.”
About $495,092 will go toward two major sidewalk/ curb improvements, while the mayor and the citizens advisory committee creating the plan allocated another $420,000 for neighborhood revitalization grants, including $270,000 in funding which wasn’t spent last year.
Other allocations include:
• $50,000 for neighborhood blight removal, which Goodnight said he hopes will help deter crime.
• $30,000 for a mini-skate park to sit on the current tennis courts at Studebaker Park.
• $18,000 for an Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant walk path in Highland Park. The walk path will go around the park’s kids playground area.
• $15,000 for electrical upgrades at the Carver Community Center.
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