Fergus Street Homeownership Project Overview
Bounded by Pullan Avenue on the north, Knowlton Street on the south, Mad Anthony Street on the east and Langland Street on the west, the Fergus Street Homeownership Project (the "Project") is designed to increase homeownership in a depressed and densely populated area in Northside that has been subjected to increased rates of foreclosures, vacancies and crime. CNCURC identified redevelopment of the corners of Chase Avenue at Fergus and Mad Anthony streets most critical to the success of the Project.
Phase One
Phase One of this Project called for construction of two HOME House homes chosen from designs featured at the Contemporary Art Center's (CAC) May 2006 exhibit, intended to be green sustainable houses based on S. Flavio Espinoza's "Suburban Loft" design, and acquisition and demolition of two blighted buildings at the corner of Chase Avenue and Mad Anthony St., earmarked for construction of a third green house designed by local architect Alice Emmons as part of Phase Two. In addition, Phase Two also calls for the purchase of additional properties for rehabilitation or demolition and new construction in the Project area.
CNCURC's board members worked with the City of Cincinnati and property owners to implement Phase One of the Fergus Street Homeownership Project. City of Cincinnati Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds allocated for Phase One served as the start up dollars used to purchase five blighted properties located on Chase Avenue at the corners of Fergus and Mad Anthony streets.
Aside from CNCURC's deliberate effort to close the corner grocery store located on Chase Avenue at Fergus Street, the organization is committed to focus attention on acquiring vacant and/or foreclosed properties for rehabilitation or demolition and new construction.
CNCURC also used the Block Grant funds to relocate two business tenants who operated at the corner store, formerly known as McPerry Foods, Inc., conduct a Blight Survey of the Project area, hire a Project Manager, demolish the three buildings located at Fergus and Chase, purchase eight additional properties and for other administrative costs. Demolition was started on May 18 and completed on May 25, 2006 for the Chase/Fergus construction where the two LEED Silver Certified single-family homes were built. The new addresses would become 1440 and 1444 Chase.
In July, 2006, CNCURC acquired an additional parcel, 4129 Fergus Street, through a private donation.
Phase Two
The first implementation of Phase Two, the purchase of twenty additional properties in the Fergus Street Homeownership Project area, allowed CNCURC to contract with the City of Cincinnati for additional CDBG funds to purchase and rehabilitate or demolish eight of the additional twenty properties proposed for this phase.
Using City of Cincinnati CDBG funds, CNCURC acquired five vacant single-family houses, one mixed-use building, and two vacant lots in 2008.
In addition, CNCURC also received one building from a private donor, 1720 Hanfield Street. Located on the west side of Hamilton Avenue, ownership necessitated development of a second project area; named the Blockwatch 45223 Homeownership Project.