Filming Begins Tomorrow
The City of Wichita has received word that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will visit Wichita on Wednesday, November 10, as part of an effort to prepare a video presentation commemorating the 15th anniversary of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The anniversary occurs in 2005. Wichita was selected out of hundreds of other cities that use these funds because of the exemplary work and progress made through the City of Wichita’s Housing Department efforts.
ICF Consulting, the firm hired by HUD to produce the video will film the Power CDC Millair Creek Development, near 25th and Minnesota beginning November 10. This project involves HOME program development subsidies for affordable homeownership. They are hoping to tour one or two of the homes, and possibly interview one or two of the homeowners. Local homeowners will be included in interviews.
"We think this is a great project to be highlighted nationally," said Mark Stanberry, Housing Specialist of the City’s Housing Services Department. "It involves HOME funds, improvement of public housing residences in the area, HOME program homebuyer assistance, Section 8 Homeownership program assistance, and financing provided through the Heart of Wichita Lender Pool all in one case," Stanberry said.
About Millair Creek; Power CDC, Wichita, Kansas:
Power CDC, a local Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), has experienced success with a new housing development in the near-northeast area of Wichita. The project involves the construction of single-family homes on a vacant parcel of land that was donated to Power CDC by the City of Wichita. Working with a home builder experienced in the construction of affordable single-family homes, the organization has succeeded in providing a new affordable, homeownership opportunity for the citizens of Wichita. HOME funds are provided to Power CDC in the form of zero-interest, forgivable development subsidy loans. Power CDC developed a partnership with a local lender, Commercial Federal Bank, to obtain construction loans in order to leverage HOME funding. Commercial Federal is also providing permanent financing for families purchasing homes in the new development. Permanent financing has also been provided through the "Heart of Wichita Lender Pool," a partnership initiative among local lenders to provide affordable mortgage financing opportunity for families that have experienced credit history challenges in the past. Families purchasing the homes have received assistance with down payment and closing costs through the City's HOME program and Section 8 Homeownership Program.
Initial interest on the part of homebuyers was to the extent that the first 10 homes were sold before construction could begin. In order to achieve full-scale community redevelopment, the City of Wichita’s Housing Services Department is in the process of utilizing public housing capital improvement grant funds to improve 45 single-family rental units immediately to the east of the new housing development. The improvements include the construction of facades in order to create front porches and attractive elevations, site/landscaping improvements, and construction of new driveways and fencing.
For information on how to take advantage of these homeownership advantages for those that qualify, contact the City of Wichita Housing Department at 462-3700.
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