FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The city of Fort Wayne is ready to show off a recent home makeover.
The Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services purchased six vacant or abandoned houses around the area after they were deemed unmarketable.
RELATED: Fort Wayne hopes to purchase 88 homes to help clean up neighborhoods. Last year, the city of Fort Wayne was given $7.5 million last year to demolish 315 rundown properties and redevelop them.
The first rehabbed home that’s ready to be turned over to the new homeowners is in the West Central region. Mary Tyndall from Fort Wayne’s Community Development says the house at 1121 Fulton St. will close on Friday to a young couple excited to live close to downtown.
Of the six total homes purchased, there are currently two looking for buyers. The other homes are being worked on, and some are close to being completed.
The city’s blight elimination program has been trying to deal with some rundown
properties for a couple years now. This particular program, however, is separate from that, though not too dissimilar.
Also helping with the rehabs are Belay Corporation, Preston Allen Homes, members of the Housing and Neighborhood Services Board and West Central neighborhood residents.
As part of this program, the city will invest up to $3,500 in closing costs that must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the buyer, along with 5-year residential tax abatements. Meanwhile, the buyer must contribute a minimum of $1,000 in closing costs and be willing to live in the property as their primary residence for a period of five years.
RELATED: Fort Wayne’s blight elimination program seeing progress