NEWARK, Ohio -- The city of Newark is turning some of its houses from hell into little slices of heaven.
NBC 4's Mike Bowersock dug deeper to find out how the city is trying to get of or fix up abandoned and rundown homes.
The home at 69 N. 8th St. would be a first-time homebuyer's dream come true.
The city of Newark purchased the home for $1 and made it what it is today with about $70,000 in renovations. The house will sell for about $85,000.
That's how Newark is spending its almost $900,000 in stimulus monies funded by Ohio's Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Buying and either fixing up or demolishing abandoned, eyesore properties.
And the city is buying those properties on the cheap.
"I like your phrase the perfect storm because the banks are in a situation where they need to move properties to get them off the books. The city's in a situation where they have money to buy the properties and then fix the property," Neighborhood Stabilization Program Coordinator Daniel Coffman said.
There's a lot from which to choose, too.
"It's been empty, without families living in here, for many years," said Judy Carr about one home. Carr works in the city's department of community development.
"We have probably at least 20 that have been abandoned for more than 10 years," Carr said.
Carr and Coffman cruise city streets looking for candidates.
Not all of the homes can be saved, though.
Carr said the cost of fixing some homes exceeds the values of the properties.
One by one, the city's abandoned and rundown homes are getting their judgments.
"I think of what it can become before I think about tearing it down," Coffman said.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement