The City of Valdosta will celebrate a reconstruction home project at a ribbon cutting ceremony, at 703 E. Cummings Street, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m.  The home, located in one of the city’s Designated Revitalization Areas, was constructed by MD Contracting utilizing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Atlanta funding.  The project is one way the city plans to eliminate substandard housing within the city limits by the year 2020. 

Valdosta Mayor John Gayle, District 2 Councilwoman Deidra White, District 3 City Councilman Sonny Vickers, Neighborhood Development Division staff and MD Contracting representatives will be present at the event to help homeowner Phyllis Jackson cut the ribbon on her new home. 

The Neighborhood Development Division is responsible for directing, coordinating and managing all programs receiving local, state, or federal funding for neighborhood and community development for the City of Valdosta.  For more information, call (229) 671-3617.

Quick Facts

• Home is located at 703 E. Cummings—contractor is MD Contracting.
• 90 day turn-around, start to finish  
• Uses combination funding: CDBG/CHIP/Federal Home Loan
• Home was demolished and rebuilt using plans for KC-910 style homes derived from Hurricane Katrina--long narrow lots, 25 feet wide, 1185 square feet.
• To be eligible, the home must be located in city’s DRA
• Homeowner must be eligible and must reside in the home
• Home must be deemed unsafe for occupancy (Richard works with marshals to perform inspections.)
• A feasibility study is done to determine if the cost of repair exceeds 50 percent of the value of the home---if so, it becomes unfeasible to rehab it. (which mirrors the city ordinance and state code). 
• The city attorney clears the deed
• Next steps include a lot survey, test for lead and asbestos (asbestos is removed before demolition)
• City sends out proposal for demolition
• Reconstruction generally costs over $60,000, and city utilizes various resources of applicable grant funding to construct a new home for the eligible homeowner.