Historic neighborhood preservation and new home vitality are the themes of the final open houses for the Butte Neighborhood Stabilization Program beginning this week.
Historic housing rehabilitation and new construction was funded by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program administered by the Montana Department of Commerce. The Butte program was developed by the Butte-headquartered National Affordable Housing Network through the Butte-Silver Bow city-county government.
Five historic homes and four in-fill new construction homes, projects filling in historic blocks, are now available for viewing, with two holiday open houses at 831 W. West Granite Street and 623 and 627 W Granite slated for Wednesday, December 17, 3 pm to 6 pm, including:
• One of Butte’s proudest historic homes is available for viewing at 831 W. Granite, a property of Montana’s second governor, John Rickards.
• Three-bedroom, two-story townhomes at 623 and 627 W. Granite that highlight masonry in adjacent structures and low-maintenance patios. The superinsulated townhomes, built by Markovich Construction from designs by Intrinsik Architecture, were built on a long-empty lot on one of the most eye-catching residential views on the Butte Hill.
The program offers unique incentives to encourage homebuyers with incomes up to 120 percent of median ($48,800 for a single, $69,700 for a household of four) to purchase homes in neighborhoods seeking investment. Buyers need not be first time homeowners. Real estate professionals are welcome to participate. Five project homes have been sold in the program to date.
Uptown neighborhoods have special opportunities for homeowners that are usually overlooked. For example, the Hill makes it easier to be energy efficient. It is a different climate than the Flat, with about four degrees average warmer temperatures, based on measurements taken on buildings and weather stations. (Cold-air inversions are mostly experienced in the valley.) The Hill has exceptional solar access that warms the dense, masonry construction. In addition, the Hill is close to Montana Tech, Northwestern Energy, St. James Hospital and many other businesses in the Uptown area, for those who wish to walk, bike or take the BSB bus. The Hill also offers prime views of the grandeur of the Highlands, the East Ridge and the Pintlers.
See www.nahn.com/available-homes/ or call 782-8579 to get more information about available properties and no-cost credit counseling for homeownership.
CELEBRATION RIBBON CUTTING FOR 623-627 W. Granite will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Barbara Miller (565-9405) or Todd Hunkler (782-8579 or 740-359-9206)