The City of Centralia has had some success recently with obtaining funding for Housing Rehabilitation. The City was awarded approximately $300,000 in 2006 and a similar amount was just announced for 2008, through the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) with the State of Illinois. Each application is specific to one neighborhood only, and residents to be benefitted are pre-qualified during the application. Qualifying homes must have a household income of no more than 80% of the median income for Marion County and they must own their home. In selecting a target area, Community Development staff surveyed the entire community then used these results to select an area where most of the neighborhood was low-income, home ownership was high, and repairs were needed to the homes.
The area that was funded in 2006 was the 900 and 1000 blocks of South Maple (just south of Calumet). Seven homes in the area have received assistance. The typical amount of investment has been around $40,000 per house. The primary goal of the work is to the home into compliance with all building maintenance codes. This may include new roofing, windows, siding, plumbing (both feed lines and drain lines), electrical wiring, water heaters, furnace, flooring, and even kitchen cabinets. The rehabilitation of the neighborhood also included the demolition of several homes to improve the conditions of blight in the neighborhood.
The City of Centralia submitted the 2008 grant in November of 2007 and just received word this April that the application was funded. The target area for this grant is the 400-600 blocks of North Locust. Approximately eight homes in the are expected to be rehabilitated. Once again, only those residents who qualify as low-income homeowners will be assisted. If more than eight applications are received, they will be ranked according to various criteria. These will include income, the number of people in the home, and the presence of any elderly or disabled residents in the home. The City of Centralia also intends to demolish several dilapidated homes in the target area.
15 comments:
I happened to view one of your town meetings on cable in reference to this subject of renovating homes on the main thoroughfares of the city, I hope when people pass through the city they remember, you cannot judge a book by its cover.
Unfortunately, you have to judge a book by its cover.
I don't
You gotta remember, this is Centralia, not Fantasy Land.
I agree, this is not fantasy land, if so this town would be full of movie and music stars, players in sports, high ranking politicians and the super wealthy, they are the only ones I know that live in fantasy land.
That comment made no sense at all. You're living in a dream world if you're thinking Centralia is getting better.
I knew I wasn't the only one in this city that thought the same thing. You talk to the city officials and they say Centralia is on a upswing, where?
Oh, you're not in the minority....the only thing on the upswing is the resumes of the City officials....just wait until they leave town with their padded resumes and the City in a mess.
Are you guys blind? All i see is the construction on the east side, the road construction, housing demos etc that are making this place the centralia we once knew. Granted this city has had its fair share of problems but i have seen a major turn around in the last few years. Why don't we take some pride in our city? At least the "reseume padding" city officials seem to think we're doing well.
The construction on the east side? Well, let's see, that's all being done with tax payer dollars PLUS they won't even be paying taxes in the future! Do your homework. Have you not seen your own tax bill?
You need not complain if you dont get involved. I have been to many of the City Meetings and see only a handful of people. VOICE YOUR OPINION..to the ones that are making the decisions. We are a town of 14000+, with only a few controlling your way of life. GET INVOLVED it is much needed.
I noticed one of these signs at the end of Meadow Lane by the construction done by a contractor that purchased the property for subdivisions. What kind of funds are going into their project?
HA! Probably theatre funds or something. It's all a dance...rob Peter to pay Paul sort of thing. Creative accounting. But yeah, good question. I'm sure they'll "invent" some fund. Do people really have that much wool over their eyes?
I came across this blog as I was searching about Centralia, IL.
My husband and I are looking into buying property there. I must say some of the people on this blog need to get out of town more and see what is happening all over the big cities. Be glad you live in a small town! Clean up your act, your homes and be proud of what you have! Some of you have no idea how to run a city anyway and maybe your just not educated enough anyway. You always have people that sit and complain but never want to take action! Take action people and quit complaining. I like the looks of Centralia and the small atmosphere, I just didn't realize how small of minds there are there to. But, you want keep me from looking and maybe more people like me will move there and make it a better place to live. Think positive!
I have to leave a note for the last blog. You are right, big cities, small towns, no comparison. I want you to compare this town with other small communities. I have a small mind but I can see a fool a mile away. I have a bridge for sale.
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