CIC Celebrates First of Many Home Rehabilitations

ZANESVILLE, OH – Zanesville City leaders gathered to celebrate the completion of a major rehabilitation project.

An open house took place on Woodlawn Avenue to mark the first of many home rehabilitations that the CIC has undertaken as a part of their Housing Restoration Program.

The Housing Restoration Program started in 2023 with $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding that was allocated by the Zanesville City Council.

Matthew Schley, the Community Development Coordinator, said the CIC was given possession to 28 homes as a part of a court action.

“We put the plans in motion when Mayor Mason took office to come up with a strategy to address these homes,” Schley said. “These homes were in various states of repair. This particular one had foundation issues, bad siding, and had been vacant for a couple of years now.”

Schley was happy to report that the home has already been sold to a first time homeowner.

He said the next step is to address the remaining 27 homes.

Mayor Don Mason said the reason they chose this house to restore first was because the neighborhood used to be more family oriented.

“These homes had families in them and over a period of time there have been transitions,” Mayor Mason said. “Some became rental properties and some just became really dilapidated. Our goal was to invest in this house as a way to show the neighborhood that we are committed to this neighborhood. We’ll of course being doing other things in the area to help improve the attraction. ”

The proceeds from the sale of each home will go into the next cycle to repair more homes and properties.