U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois took a look this morning at some of what $18 million in federal neighborhood stablization program funds has accomplished in Evanston.
Standing with Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl outside a home being rehabbed at 313 Custer Ave., Durbin praised the work the city has accomplished in the three-year program so far and said is should provide an answer to critics in Congress who say federal stimulus programs don’t work.
Durbin said the program “is creating good, safe affordable housing for people and saving neighborhoods that might have gone into blight.”
And, he added, the program is also creating jobs.
Top: Sen. Durbin with Mayor Tisdahl. Above: Construction workers watch as Durbin and a parade of city officials and reporters parade through the 313 Custer Ave. two-flat.
The NSP2 grant to Evanston is designed to rehabilitate 100 housing units, roughly half for rental and half for resale, in two census tracts, one on the city’s west side, the other in south Evanston.
Some program funds are also proposed for use in a new construction development on the city’s west side.
The first of the rehabilitated homes are now on the market and more information about them is available on the city’s Live Evanston website.