CRA expands program to improve houses Downtown

The first recipient of the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)’s Downtown residential paint program.

The program offers homeowners vouchers for up to $500 in paint and painting supplies to improve the curb appealof their homes. Last year, 14 homes were painted through existing CRA paint programs in the Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street and Eastside neighborhoods.The CRA expanded this program toits Downtown redevelopment area because of strong community interest and a record of past successes.“There’s often a domino effect,” said CRA project manager Stephanie Seawright. “Ahomeowner will receive a voucherfrom us to freshen up their home, their neighbor will see how great it looks and wantthe same thingfor their house, so they’ll spend some time fixing up their property. One newly painted house will lead to three newly painted houses and pretty soon the whole street will be transformed.”The Porters Community housewill be painted by volunteers from two nonprofits: Bridges of Americaand Innovative Dads(a ‘Handy Dads’community revitalization program led by Pastor Gerard Duncan). “Seeing communities mobilize and come together to help one another through this program really takes the neighborhood impact to the next level,” said Seawright. AnotherCRA paint partnership, a programwith Alachua Habitat for Humanityknown as ‘A Brush with Kindness,’goes a step beyond the residential paint vouchers andassistshomeowners-in-need with repainting and minor house repairs in the Duval area. Interested in applying for a residential paint voucher? Applicationsare accepted on a rolling basis. Homeowners must live within the Downtown, Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street or Eastside redevelopment area to qualify for the residential paint voucher program. Click herefor a mapof CRA redevelopment area boundaries. ContactCRA Project Manager Stephanie Seawright at 352-393-8201 for more information.