REDEFINING A NEIGHBORHOOD: RUN-DOWN HOMES RETURN TO THE MARKET

by Michael Monks 

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New kitchen/living room at 304
Berry Street

A blighted block in Jackson Square is now on its way back to life thanks to the Center for Great Neighborhoods and its important partnership with the City of Covington. 304 Berry Street was a foreclosed building that needed to be completely gutted before anyone could live in it. The City-owned building is now a sparkling fresh gem that already has an offer on the table from a prospective buyer (though, City Commissioner Steve Caspers tells The River City News that he does not believe the building was appraised high enough and that those details are still being worked out). 

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2nd floor balcony at 304 Berry
overlooks Holman Ave

The Center for Great Neighborhoods worked as the general contractor and developer of the property with help from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program. CGN is paid 10 - 15% of the construction costs while the City will profit from the sale. The reimagining and redevelopment of three homes within steps of each other follows the one-block-at-a-time mantra that is allowing Covington to revive itself. "We're revitalizing neighborhoods by focusing resources in a tight area to build momentum," said Rachel Hastings, CGN's Director of Neighborhood & Housing Initiatives. "This motivates neighboring homeowners to work on their homes," something they may not have done had the neighborhood stayed in disrepair.

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306 Berry, another CGN project, sold on Monday to a former renter from Mainstrasse while 226 Berry, yet another CGN project, will be owned by a couple from Price Hill following their closing next Thursday. CGN is also nearly 80% finished with a rehab job 1106 Holman Avenue, just around the corner from the Berry Street properties. All the homes feature bamboo flooring, new drywall, energy efficient HVAC and windows, new cabinetry, counters, fixtures and appliances. 

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SEE ALSO: The Center for Great Neighborhoods recently broke ground on new construction projects next to the Pulse Lofts on Banklick Street where multiple properties are also slated for rehab. For that story and photos, click the link.

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FOR MORE PHOTOS OF THE PROPERTIES ON BERRY AND HOLMAN, CLICK THE LINK BELOW: The RC News: 900 Block of Banklick Rejoins the Living

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The completed home is at 304 Berry Street while the one under construction in the photos is at 1106 Holman.