Stimulus Money Aids in Neighborhood Restoration

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Over $8 million of federal stimulus money will go to improving low income neighborhoods that are overrun with foreclosed homes and dilapidated housing.

It's a boost to a longtime goal for city leaders. Oklahoma City's planning director Russell Claus says "revitalizing inner city neighborhoods is key to the future success of our city."

Leaders from the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma agree.

Executive Director Georgie Rasco says, "An increasing number of people are interested in moving to inner city neighborhoods, but run down housing options keep many from doing so."

One popular inner city area is the Paseo District where volunteers from Positively Paseo work to turn around dilapidated housing into viable homes. The finished projects go to potential home buyers who earn low to moderate incomes.

Learn more about Postively Paseo.

Neila Crank-Clements of Positively Paseo says funding is always an issue so the work is often slow and tedious. However, it's work like theirs that planning leaders say is crucial. Claus says about 50-60 homes in various inner city neighborhoods could get revamped by stimulus dollars.

It has not been decided which inner city neighborhoods will get funding, but Crank-Clements says improving one neighborhood often has a trickledown effect to improving all.