By Paul Minnis, The Republic
pminnis@therepublic.com
Owners of 63 flood-damaged homes in the Pleasant Grove subdivision will have the opportunity to sell their homes to the city. U.S. Department of Homeland Security's FEMA division approved a grant to Columbus Friday for $4.4 million, a press release states.
A 25-percent match by the state will bring the total to about $5.5 million, which the city anticipates getting in the next few weeks.
The money will be used to buy and demolish the mostly abandoned homes in Pleasant Grove, an East Columbus neighborhood next to Columbus Tech Center, said Jeff Bergman, director of Columbus Planning Department.
It also will pay for removing utilities, leveling the properties and seeding them for grass. "That's just really, really good to hear," said Roy Burton, whose home was ruined beyond repair in the June 2008 flood.
"I've just been waiting and waiting. It's been so frustrating having to wait all this time."
The city will have to pay for the homes' ultimate conversion to green space, a park or a community garden, which are the only conversion options under the federal buyout program.
The city will bear no expense for the buyouts themselves, except in time and paperwork.
Bergman said one of the first steps will be to contract with appraisers to determine a fair purchase price for each home, based on the pre-flood value.
He would not guess how many of the 63 property owners would sell for the price offered. He said individuals still own many of the properties, while financing agencies own others.
Most have not been lived in since the flood, which devastated the community and other areas of Columbus and the county.
He said participation will be optional, which could lead to a series of parks and green spaces instead of one or two larger spaces.
"Those who can't go back in their homes are very interested in the buyout," Bergman said. "At least that's been my experience."
He said some people actually have moved back into the homes. That's an option for anyone whose home was damaged by less than 50 percent of its value.
About 20 homes in Pleasant Grove did not qualify at all for the buyout.
Mayor Fred Armstrong called the federal grant a "blessing."
"We spent thousands of hours trying to get this grant, and today it finally paid off," he said.
"People out there have been waiting all this time for this news."
No other Columbus communities are being targeted for buyouts. Four homes in the county are being targeted on Road 325W, but FEMA has not approved grants the county is seeking.
The federal grant specifically is part of $162 million made available statewide for buyouts and building repairs through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
"Mitigation projects such as these benefit residents and communities affected by disasters," said Janet Odeshoo, acting regional administrator for FEMA.
"These acquisitions in Columbus will reduce future structural losses and lessen the financial impact on individuals and governments following a disaster."