Information

For information about Fountain Avenue and to download maps, plans, and other documents, visit the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Website.  Neighborhood newsletters prepared by the Planning Department can be found below. 

Project Purpose

In February 2001, the City of Paducah's City Commission convened a Commission Advance attended by the Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, department heads, and critical managers.  A Strategic Plan was developed which determined that Vital Neighborhoods was one of four primary goals established for the City.

With the mandate from the Commission to secure Viable Neighborhoods, the City of Paducah Planning Department undertook the creation of a neighborhood plan for the revitalization of one of its first and oldest neighborhoods known as 'LowerTown'.  LowerTown is a historic residential neighborhood adjacent to the City's Central Business District and Downtown area.

In hopes of building upon this successful neighborhood revitalization initiative, the City Commission selected the Fountain Avenue neighborhood as the next target area for revitalization.  Realizing that each neighborhood has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, the Planning Department first created a plan that is unique to the Fountain Avenue neighborhood and worked with its residents and interested parties to formulate a revitalization strategy tailored to the needs of the Fountain Avenue area. 

Progress:  Financial Incentives

The final plan was adopted by the City Commission on April 10th 2007.  A hard copy of the plan is available at the Planning Department, the Public Library, Margaret Hank Cumberland Presbyterian Church (1526 Park Avenue), and Fountain Avenue Methodist Church (301 Fountain Avenue).  The City held an official groundbreaking on December 18, 2007.  On July 8, 2008, the Paducah City Commission approved a set-aside of $300,000 for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 to be used as forgivable loans for home construction and renovation projects in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood.

City-owned lots and structures can be purchased for as little as $1.

To qualify for an up to $20,000 forgivable loan, one must:

• Renovate an existing home in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood with a total project cost of at least $50,000

OR

• Construct a new home in the neighborhood.

AND 

The homeowner must reside in the newly constructed or renovated home for at least five years. 

Incentives to developers are also offered.

For more information concerning available properties, the plan, or its implementation, contact Charlie Doherty in the Planning Department at (270)444-8690 or  by email.