Courtesy-LCNFC
COLUMBUS, Ind. – Community partners recently gathered at the Sarla Kalsi Conference Center to recognize a major milestone in neighborhood revitalization: the completion of the five homes built through the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Home Buyer Program.
Launched by a small group of key stakeholders and championed by Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center (LCNFC), the initiative transforms distressed lots into energy-efficient, owner-occupied homes. The program’s first house was completed in 2019.
The Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation (SIHCDC) coordinates project financing and compliance with support from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s HOME grant program. Construction work is supported by students from the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation’s C4 Construction pathway, who gain hands-on experience as part of their technical education. The lots are typically the result of blighted homes that had to be demolished for code-related reasons, and come to the program as a donation from the City of Columbus.
The five homes — each sold to first-time buyers identified by LCNFC — represent more than $1 million in added market value to the historic Lincoln-Central neighborhood. Each house serves as an anchor for further community-led development, increasing access to safe and affordable housing while also helping families experience the many benefits of home ownership.
Planning is underway for the next round of construction, and LCNFC invites any prospective program participants, community supporters, and donors to get involved by emailing info@lcnfc.org.
