Dates to Remember
Mark Your Calendar:
- March 9th - Green Your Home Housing Workshop Series, 6:00-7:30 p.m., City Hall
- March 16th - Foreclosure Issues for Owners & Renters, Housing Workshop Series, 6:00-7:30 p.m., City Hall
- March 20th - Spring Clean-Up begins.
- March 23rd - Community Action House Home Maintenance Class begins, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Macatawa Resource Center.
- March 25th - Ourstreet Committee Meeting, 4:00 p.m., City Hall
- End of March - Neighborhood Impact Program will begin accepting applications.
- April 13th - Gang Symposium, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon, City Hall
|
 |
Spring Clean-Up
Spring Clean-Up begins Saturday, March 20, 2010 and runs until Saturday, April 3, 2010. During this time, yard clippings, shrub trimmings and wind-blown twigs may be brought to the curb or road shoulders for pick-up. No refuse or stumps.
Project Pride coupons are available for pick-up on the third floor of City Hall for disposal of additional refuse. For more information about about Project Pride, please contact Mary Ann Hensley at 355-1335.
|
|
Greetings!
We are rounding the corner into spring, the start of our busy months here are the office. In this month's newsletter you'll notice a new feature, a "Dates to Remember" section. From now on, you'll be able to easily find quick information about all of the City events and meetings pertaining to the Ourstreet neighborhood. This newsletter also has information about the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy meeting, spring clean-up, a program for new home buyers and graffiti removal tips. We'll look forward to seeing you out and about the neighborhood!
Sincerely,
Catie Hauch
Ourstreet Assistant
|
|
|
Neighborhood Improvement Strategy Public Meeting
The City will be holding a public meeting on Thursday, March 18th at City Hall to discuss the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy document. This meeting will give you an opportunity to address ideas or concerns you may have about the strategy with City leaders.
Sign in for the meeting is from 6:10 to 6:20. The public meeting is from: 6:30 to 8:40 p.m.
Please read the entire draft of the document before coming to the meeting. You will find it here.
What is the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy Document?
(Excerpt from the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy Document)
"It is important to note that this document strives to recommend policy that creates certain energy and excitement about living in the City's Neighborhoods. Instead of focusing on conventional Community Development issues, such as work force housing, job training, and social service agency support which remain important components of reaching a greater level of social equity, this document will present a new framework on how the City must develop its neighborhoods. This report presents a comprehensive strategy identifying what it takes to ensure that our neighborhoods are desirable places to live, invest in homeownership and contribute positively to the overall community."
"Beginning in the early part of 2009, and over the course of the year, (the members of the task force) have identified a purpose for the document, key neighborhood values, an overall goal for all Neighborhoods, modified and affirmed neighborhood aspirations, analyzed data, built a framework for creating Neighborhoods of Choice, and developed several recommendations for City Council to actively pursue." |
Attention Homebuyers: Neighborhood Stabilization Program Information
What is NSP? NSP is your opportunity to buy a completely renovated foreclosed home in a great neighborhood for a good price. The City of Holland partnered with three local agencies, Habitat for Humanity, Homecore and Jubilee Ministries who will purchase, renovate and resell 3 to 5 homes to qualified buyers. Am I Eligible?
- Your household income is between 50% and 120% of Area Median Income
- You must plan to live in the home
What do I need to do?
- Meet the eligibility requirements
- Take a Homebuyer Education Class
- Qualify for a mortgage
- Contribute at least 1% of the sales price as down payment
Why should I buy an NSP home?
- Great Central City Location
- Each home will be thoroughly renovated
- Renovations will be done with energy efficiency in mind
- Down payment assistance and special financing available to qualified buyers
- Buy from a trusted non-profit agency
- 20% of the mortgage is forgivable after 10 years.
Additional Resources:
If you are considering purchasing a foreclosed home in the area and not going through one of our partners, there may be special financing programs available through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Contact Sue Harder for more details.
For a printable version of this article, follow this link. |
Graffiti Removal
As the weather warms up, graffiti increases. Keeping your property free from graffiti shows pride in your property and discourages vandals from future tagging. Here are the steps you can take to remove graffiti:
- Report the graffiti. Call the Holland Police Dept. non-emergency number at 1-800-249-0911. If a police report is filed and the vandals are prosecuted for the graffiti, you may have the opportunity to be re-reimbursed for damages.
- If the graffiti is on a surface other than wood, use Gelled Graffiti remover -
- Wear protective eye-wear and gloves
- Spray on graffiti and let stand for one minute
- Scrape with a wire brush (surface permitting)
- Wipe away with a rag.
- Gelled Graffiti remover can be purchased at Grainger at 767 Chicago Dr.
- If the graffiti is on a wood surface, such as a fence or wood siding, use a paint and primer.
- Use a paint brush or roller (depending on the size of the graffiti) and primer to paint over the graffiti. You may need 2-3 coats to completely cover.
- After the primer has dried, finish with a coat of paint that matches the original color.
For questions about graffiti removal, please contact Janie Briones at 616-355-3127.
| |
|
|
|
