The Habitat For Humanity of Henderson reported Tuesday that it has bought nine blighted properties in the inner city area since the organization began a partnership with the city of Henderson this fiscal year.
The city and Habitat entered into an agreement to each put in $100,000 per year to identify, acquire and clear blighted lots in the inner city. That’s $200,000 per year to do this work, whereas in the past, the city designated $50,000 per year for it, said Mayor Brad Staton.
Habitat Chief Operations Office Matt Reynolds said of that $200,000, the organization has $122,712 left in the account to acquire and develop more properties this fiscal year.
He told the Hendersonian that he’s interested in talking to landowners in the inner city who have properties they no longer want, or want to take care of or have taxes or back taxes they don’t want to pay.
He said Habitat will use the matching funds—part of it taxpayer dollars—fairly and in a way that makes sense for residents and for those who will one day live on the lot.
Habitat thus far has spent almost $78,000 to acquire the properties and clear the lots.
He said Habitat will work with landowners to make the deals happen—including working through the many hoops that often are a part of selling property, especially that which may have heirs that live out of state.
Once the lots are cleared, Habitat can build new houses on them, or the lots can be sold to others who want to build houses or bring businesses, Reynolds has said previously.
The nine properties purchased so far are:
- 1414 Powell St.
- 1438 Helen St.
- 1513 Wright St.
- 1238 Clay St.
- 1130 Washington St.
- 1132 Washington St.
- 1134 Washington St.
- 605 Plum St.
- 1308 Helm St.
He said the taxable value of the nine properties is $51,500. Once Habitat builds homes on the lots, Reynolds estimated the value will increase to $1.352 million if three-bedroom homes are built on the properties.
The agreement between the city and Habitat originated from the work of a committee in last year’s Inner City Improvement Plan.