Neighborhood group rehabs foreclosed homes

The recession has created a huge foreclosure problem in cities around the nation, including Milwaukee, and in its wake comes abandoned homes, unkempt property, and dropping home values. Now, one group, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors is taking action to make their neighborhood more appealing to buyers. The group takes foreclosed properties and renovates them, making them move-in ready.

With the help of carpentry students from the Milwaukee Area Technical College, the group takes a foreclosed, unkempt home and makes it look like new again. So far, the group has purchased and rehabilitated five foreclosed homes in the Burnham Park neighborhood through its turnkey program, using grants from the city. They plan to sell the refurbished homes to interested buyers at an affordable price. The group says the goal is to promote home ownership, while giving the neighborhood a much-needed upgrade.

"There really is that ripple effect, that when people see investment happening in a neighborhood, they want to do something to sort of keep up with that, and make the block look that much nicer," Will Sebern with the Layton Boulevard West Neighbors group said.

The group will host a "Tour of Homes" Saturday the 19th from 10:30am to 1:00pm. It will start at Sacred Heart Center on South Layton Boulevard.