Last weekend, not one but THREE newly renovated houses in a three-block area of Willard-Hay and Near North were open for neighbors to visit.

The renovations—at 1723 Irving (still in progress), 1819 Girard, and 1822 James (before and after photo below)—are funded by the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and carried out by PRG, working primarily with local and minority-owned contractors.

About 25 people, including the future owners of 1723 Irving, stopped to tour the homes and talk with PRG staff. Many expressed excitement about the completed renovations, and several mentioned the positive change; two of the homes had been sites of problem behaviors and/or had been vacant for a long time.

In addition to reinvesting in a neighborhood that has experienced large numbers of foreclosures, a major goal of the renovations is to provide affordable opportunities for ownership of high-quality homes. Rehab work on each home has the goal of needing no major repairs in the first years of home ownership, and care is taken to improve energy efficiency, abate hazardous materials like lead and asbestos, and improve indoor air quality. The result is an affordable home ownership opportunity that compares favorably to homes available on the market for a similar price.

1723 Irving and 1819 Girard are pending sale; 1822 James is still on the market for $139,900. Contact Erin for more information.