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Rebuilding Neighborhoods through Public/Private Partnerships
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Rebuilding Neighborhoods through Public/Private Partnerships
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" Before we get started with the actual construction of our house let's talk with us -- who is really one of the pivotal. Figures in the recycling and rebirth of this particular neighborhood in St. -- this is an interesting neighborhood pride goes back to the twenties."
" That's right but very substantial housing in this area and housing with a lot of character -- is it was seasonal it was winter residence right that's correct a lot of the housing was developed by. People who would come here. From the north in the wintertime. It was in have that you hear the rest of the year they'd go back home and -- they would either rent out these houses aboard the -- so many of these houses have a history of almost three quarters of a century. What happened to them in the last 2030 years. Well the neighborhood gradually declined over a period of years the cost of maintaining the housing the cause of rehab and housing was pretty high I think a lot of the owners just walked away from it. So at one point you had hundreds of boarded houses blighted properties and vacant lots in this neighborhood and very often when that happens in the community you have a different social element that comes in. What happened here. Well you're absolutely right boarded properties and overgrown lots just attract. The bad crowd in the neighborhood if you will. Now obviously it continues in the to the decline in property values and that's what words are experiencing we had drug problems crime problems you name it. It was quite a tough battle to turn this neighborhood around."
" And the neighborhood works group that he did that you had. Has -- really had an impact not just on turning it around but explain what else you do in terms of housing."
" Sure well first of all St. Pete NHS has been involved in the Bartlett park neighborhood for about fifteen years. Back god early ninety's this neighborhood was inhabited by one of the worst drug operations in the history of the city. In fact the head of that operation is now doing federal time in in the in prison. But we came in and we worked with the residents who worked with the neighborhood association. We worked with the Bank of America CDC to acquire properties we've provided homebuyer education and counseling services to potential homebuyers. We've been involved in transforming and revitalizing the neighborhood primarily through promoting first time home ownership."
" And one of the key things is not just promoting home ownership but. Helping people figure out how it is you maintain a home and how it is you pay."
" And it's that are absolutely -- we're committed to the long term success of -- first time -- we like to say that we generate. Successful. Lifelong first time homeowners and we're building here. Houses that are unlike any other houses this neighborhood's ever seen that's correct that's correct in fact if you -- through the neighborhood you'll see quite a bit of construction to a three houses per block. But nothing like we're doing on this site."
