Just This Once

I can't even believe I've gone since Monday without posting. Sorry!

Ya'll know I have a strict no-mixing-blogging-with-work policy, but just this once, I'm breaking that rule. I only have a few short weeks to go on my latest stint with the City of Paducah (to add to my previous run of 1987-2000--since childhood if you're counting). One of the projects I've enjoyed working on of late is the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Project, a program aimed a revitalizing the historic area near mid-town roughly bounded by Fountain Ave, Jefferson Street, 13th Street, and Park Avenue.

The City is using a multitude of strategies to bring back the neighborhood (ala Lowertown) including enhanced building standards, discounted or free lots for home construction, and waived plan review fees, but by far the most exciting component of the program are the deferred payment loans available to help buy down the purchase prices.

All that "deferred payment loan" language is legalese the city has to use. What it really means is this (because it's my blog and I can say what I want to): homebuyers can get up to 15% of the purchase price of a new home in the neighborhood from the city up to a maximum of $20,000. The only catch is that the borrower lives in the home for a minimum of five years. After that? There is no obligation to repay the money. That's right. Poof! Debt disappears. (Take THAT, Master Card!).

Is it just me or is that a good deal?

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

We think so. Developers are partnering with the city on newly constructed homes, the first of which is now complete. And people? We're not talking about cookie-cutter plane jane houses. The photos you see scrolling here are of 412 Fountain Avenue, the first new house available for sale through the program. The home is eligible for the city financing (aka disappearing debt) program.

We're planning a little event on October 2nd, The Fountain Avenue Home Tour and Festival will celebrate the finished house, give everyone an opportunity to take a peek around and inside, and show the kids a good time. All of this and...FREE FOOD!

Please consider joining us at the event, pass this information along to anyone you think might be interested, and, above all, for the love of God, don't stalk me. I'm one of those people like Bette Midler in that one movie where she got kidnapped and then the kidnappers spent the rest of the movie trying to return her to her husband who wouldn't take her.

Yah, that's it.