Mayor Michael Coleman this year announced a new $25 million neighborhood revitalization initiative called Home Again.
The funds will be dedicated over six years to help address blighted homes in Columbus. The goal is to eradicate 3,200 vacant homes in the city and put 1,000 vacant properties back into use by 2012.
By either fixing up or tearing down these houses, the city wants to create opportunities for affordable housing and improve the neighborhoods.
Coleman announced the initiative during his 2006 state-of-the-city address. He noted that Columbus spent only $219,000 to demolish abandoned housing the year before.
Just prior to the announcement, a crew began demolishing a fire-damaged home that had stood vacant for nearly three years after it had been abandoned.
