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Condemned Property
New Home Planned for 504 Johnson
La Crosse, WI (June 7, 2017) – A condemned property in the Powell-Poage-Hamilton neighborhood in La Crosse will soon be transformed into a new home and will come with a new opportunity for $50,000 in scholarship funds for a La Crosse family.
The property at 504 Johnson Street will be demolished June 12 by Spies Construction and the homebuyer will be eligible for the funds through La Crosse Promise, a non-profit incentivizing the building and renovation of homes in the core neighborhoods of the city.
To mark the occasion and the demolition of the condemned property, a brief press conference will be held at approximately 10 a.m. on Monday, June 12, featuring La Crosse Promise board members and the owner of the property, Delores Spies.
Spies Construction has identified a home design, and La Crosse Promise has determined that when a homebuyer is found for the property, they will be eligible for up to $50,000 in funding for educational opportunities, once they meet the requirements for the program.
“The before and after picture of this property will tell the story,” said Brian Liesinger, executive director of La Crosse Promise. “Spies Construction is transforming the site of a condemned structure into a beautiful, new single family home for a La Crosse family. We are proud to be attaching a La Crosse Promise scholarship to this project.”
La Crosse Promise is contributing to the revitalization of the Washburn and Powell-Poage-Hamilton neighborhoods in La Crosse through an incentive program that provides the funds for qualifying families. Five new homes have been built since the program launched in 2015 and five Promise families occupy these homes on Denton, 7th Street, 9th Street and 6th Street in the Powell-Poage-Hamilton and Washburn neighborhoods.
In addition, another Promise eligible home is currently being built on 5th Street and new construction begins next month on a Promise eligible home on 9th Street across from Lincoln Middle School. All of these families have been approved for scholarships. The initial target of the program is to award the scholarship funds to 30 households. This placed-based scholarship program is the only one in the country that offers scholarships to residents who build, buy or renovate homes in select neighborhoods. Those interested in the program can find out more at lacrossepromise.org.
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Our Mission La Crosse Promise: A catalyst for community vitality through educational success.
About us: La Crosse Promise is a non-profit organization working to economically transform La Crosse, Wis., and improve the quality of life for all citizens through a strong commitment to education. This transformation is taking place through a scholarship program for families that build, buy, or renovate a home in select La Crosse neighborhoods. In addition, its Future Centers provide career guidance and post-secondary education planning for high school students in the School District of La Crosse to ensure their future career success.