Price Hill Will boosting neighborhood homeownership

In an effort to stem the tide of foreclosed homes and to boost the neighborhood's homeownership rate, Price Hill Will is taking a proactive role in housing development.

To keep costs down, they focus on acquiring foreclosed properties, donated homes, and properties made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Dollar Homes program.

To date, six homes have been rehabbed and all six have sold - most before completion.

Price Hill Will prides itself on its work, striving to make each house the nicest on the block.

Each rehab includes features like a new roof and new, efficient mechanicals, allowing new homeowners to begin building equity right away.

Price Hill Will has also established the Housing Resource Center, which will help keep homeowners in the neighborhood through education, financial advice and loan programs.  The center features a computer hookup that can be used by residents to conduct their own research.

Housing development director James Bass says that Price Hill is an attractive living choice not only because of the sense of community, because you can get more house for your money.

"The old homes here are just beautiful," Bass said.  "They have so much character.  If you take a ride through Price Hill, your jaw just drops at the architecture.  And there's a pride in this neighborhood.  People truly care - it's neat to watch."

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: James Bass, Price Hill Will housing development director
Photography by Scott Beseler