"We are reaching a point now where we are getting private investment.  People are coming in and seeing the value here.  Property values are rising.  The neighborhood is being transformed basically,” says, Community Development Planner Charlie Doherty.  In this episode of Quality of Life, Mayor Bill Paxton interviews Doherty and Paducah Planning Director Steve Ervin about the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization Project, a successful project with five years under its belt.  Mayor Paxton says, “It makes me feel good to see this neighborhood transformed.”

In 2007, the Paducah City Commission committed to the revitalization of the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood, a neighborhood filled with 100 year old homes.  Fountain Avenue, Park Avenue, North 13th Street, and the alley between Monroe and Jefferson comprise the boundaries of the neighborhood.  The main goal is to turn the neighborhood back into an economically diverse neighborhood similar to its character 80 to 90 years ago.  Ervin says this project also is important for the City’s future.  According to Ervin, “The new term of sustainability and smart growth is moving people back into your community where all infrastructure is in place.  It’s healthy for your city.”

Mayor Bill Paxton says, “By revitalizing our inner city neighborhoods, this allows people to come back maybe when they are starting out with a family or when they are retiring when they want a smaller yard and less house to take care of.  They want an area that is convenient to downtown, convenient to grocery stores, to everything.  This Fountain Avenue Neighborhood is that.”

In this episode, viewers will learn about the neighborhood’s conditions five years ago which included 80 percent of the structures in disrepair and how the neighborhood has been improved with higher home ownership, dozens of new or rehabilitated structures, and a decrease in the crime rate by more than 50 percent.  Viewers also will hear about partnerships with the Paducah Police Department and Midtown Alliance of Neighbors.  Residents will be thrilled to learn about the plans to improve the aesthetic appeal of Fountain Avenue Boulevard and Lang Park.

City and state incentive programs have spurred the development in the neighborhood. The various incentive plans from the City for the residents of the neighborhood and for those who want to move into the area are outlined on this episode.  For more information about the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood including available lots and homes, call the Planning Department at 444-8690 or visit www.fountainave.com.

Quality of Life can be seen on Government 11, Paducah’s governmental access channel.  The episode also is online at www.paducahky.gov and the various social media outlets for the City of Paducah including Youtube and Facebook.  Check the website for Government 11 program information, videos, news releases, and broadcast schedules.  Quality of Life: Fountain Avenue Neighborhood can be viewed on Government 11 starting Monday, April 30 at 11:00 a.m.  It also airs the following Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., Thursday at 8:00 a.m., and Saturday at 4:30 p.m.  Daily programming information also is available by watching the informational slides that air on the Channel 11 bulletin board.

For more information about Quality of Life and other Government 11 programming, call Tom Butler, WKCTC Television Production Coordinator, at 534-3208 or Pam Spencer, City of Paducah Public Information Officer, at 444-8669.

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