Development In Bangor
Featured Programs & Projects: Neighborhood Revitalization
A Major goal of Bangor’s Community
Development program is conserving our existing 
housing stock
through code enforcement and rehabilitation assistance and enhancing our neighborhood living conditions through improvements to
public infrastructure including streets, sidewalks, and parks. When necessary, the City is also active in clearing blighting influences including abandoned, derelict, and
substandard buildings which cannot be saved. What follows are some examples of the City's neighborhood improvement efforts.
Randolph Drive Neighborhood.
When they were declared as excess to military needs, the City purchased and rehabilitated 51 vacant single-family homes on Randolph Drive. These homes were then sold with priority given to low and moderate income first-time homebuyers. This area is now a vibrant, onwer-occupied neighborhood that complements the existing neighborhoods on Randolph Drive and March Circle.
Union Place Neighborhood Conservation Project.
The City created the Union Place Neighborhood Conservation Project in response to neighborhood concerns. A comprehensive plan of public improvements, residential rehabilitation, and selective clearance has improved area living conditions and encouraged private investment.
Curve Street
Bordering on downtown, Curve Street was a one block substandard residential area with most structures beyond feasible rehabilitation. Efforts to persuade owners to bring properties up to code proved ineffective, and the City eventually stepped in, acquiring and demolishing many of these properties. The City is encouraging sale and redevelopment to improve neighborhood safety and stability.
Boyd Street
A long-vacant lot originally acquired by the City to clear it of substandard residential housing was sold and privately developed as
affordable family housing. Partial funding of this project was possible through the City's Community Development Block Grant Program.
The City of Bangor is pleased to announce that in cooperation with MSHA
and local participating lenders, a new NEW NEIGHBORS PROGRAM is now in
effect in eligible neighborhoods of Bangor. This program is designed to assist first time home owners in buying a property.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)
The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) was announced after the latest Housing and Economic Recovery Act in late 2008. Title III of Division B of the Act appropiated $3.92 billion for emergency assistance for redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes and residental properties that would otherwise become blight on the community. Of that the state of Maine received $13,850,000 and the City of Bangor will received $1,084,873 of those funds. These funds will be used in accordance with the regulations in the Community Development Block Grant Program. Work is to begin in 2009 on the program and any questions regarding NSP should be sent to Kaleena Harrington at 207-992-4241.
|
|