Redevelopment for Affordable Housing

Hazard, Kentucky’s Housing Development Alliance partnered with city government to creatively repurpose unused and frequently vandalized property into affordable housing with a creative twist.

A community redevelopment project involves transforming abandoned, neglected, or dilapidated properties into vibrant affordable housing neighborhoods. Often involving key partnerships between local government, rural housing developers, businesses, local artists, and volunteer groups, the development of new and better housing acts as an economic driver by helping families and communities build wealth, grow the population, create opportunities, and make rural towns more visually appealing.

Local author and former Kentucky poet Laureate Gurney Norman is the namesake of Gurney’s Bend is the first subdivision to be built within Hazard’s city limits in 50 years. The city demolished the old strip mall, cleared the land and developed it for home construction. HDA raised the walls on the first home on May 11, 2021 and has currently completed construction on 11 of the 15 homes. As each homeowner moves into the new neighborhood, they are given a copy of Gurney’s Norman’s Kinfolks: The Wilgus Stories to remind them of the significance of the place and connect with regional literary history. The ongoing project, which features new home designs including “The Wilgus” and a community-created greenspace, is expected to be finished by the end of 2022.

• Timeframe to Complete Project: 3+ years

• Cost Range: over $5000; Cost Varies

• Key Words: Cross-Sector Partnerships, Advanced, Design, Planning, Community, Initiating Place, Government Resources, Housing, Buildings, Landscape Amenities

• This project was created by the Housing Development Alliance and Hazard City Government. Click on the button below to learn more.