Fairfield Village discusses grants, housing

Fairfield Village Neighborhood Council March 12 announced demolition and rehabilitation of houses, grants and security.

Judy Hovey, stabilization and beautification committee chairperson, announced Genesee Land Bank has expressed an interest in demolishing two houses and rehabilitating two houses, of the 231 homes in the neighborhood, after reviewing her committee's data.

"We did the work required," Hovey said. "We started with a housing survey and rated the exteriors of each parcel."

"Because we are in Census Track 29 we're eligible for the Housing and Urban Development Department Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant money, President Andy Ellard explained. "We brought our plan with us to the Land Bank. We're going to get something done."

Hovey said the group requested a $1,000 grant from Keep Genesee County Beautiful for one of the properties to be demolished, 909 Seventh St.

"We're going to develop a community garden there — a mixed array of art, flowers and vegetables," Hovey explained.

The garden will cost $2,100.

Ellard announced that he is requesting a grant to develop a youth task force to mow and clean up properties.

"The task force will help the neighborhood's appearance and be useful to many of our elderly neighbors," Ellard added.

The grant request was referred to the executive committee, that will meet at 1 p.m. March 17, because of questions about liability.

Ellard presented copies of the January crime statistics showing six burglaries, one assault, one damage to private property and one disorderly conduct involving a drugs arrest.

He warned members about a man posing to be a Consumers Energy employee who intented to commit fraud.

Sgt. Lloyd Nicholson, Mott community police, asked the group to participate, as a control group, by using metal identification tags on their personal valuable items.

"When stolen goods are recovered, we can trace the items back to the owners if they have tags," Nicholson said.

The group asked Nicholson to give them more information at the next Crime Watch meeting.

Officer Kraig Brucek, Mott community police, complimented the group for the recent distribution of crime watch materials throughout the neighborhood including window cards and notebooks for recording criminal activities.

"Property that looks like it's cared for is less likely to be a victim of crime. When you have this place card in your window saying you're a member of the crime watch, it says, 'I care,'" Brucek said.

In other matters the group set June 25 as the date for the neighborhood unity picnic and discussed developing a preferred vendor list for residents.

The group will meet next at 1 p.m. April 2 at the Neighborhood House, 727 East St.

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