WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Berlin, N.H., Gets Rid of Blighted Buildings

Berlin, N.H., Gets Rid of Blighted Buildings

Berlin, New Hampshire - September 23, 2009

Elementary school students from Warren, N.H., serenaded the governor, his executive council, and members of the public to kick off Wednesday's monthly meeting. For some kids, performing in front of the governor was a piece of cake.

"I was kind of nervous but I already met him at the state house in third-grade," said Erin Haley, a fifth-grader.

Dozens of agenda items were approved at the meeting, including allocating $4.3 million in federal funds to clean up dilapidated homes around Berlin.

"It is sort of what they call the broken window effect," explained Alice Veenstra, a community development officer in Berlin. "It was very obvious around the Notre Dame School. You have the school which has been vacant and boarded for a number of years and you can see the properties ringing out around it."

Boarded up houses can be seen all over the city. Some of them were simply abandoned by their owners, others partially destroyed by fire. The city suffered dozens of suspicious fire is recent years.

"To quote the fire chief he said, yeah another week, another fire. That is a sad comment to hear out of one of our major northern cities but it is the truth," said Ray Burton of the Executive Council. "So, as these buildings become vacant, the opportunity exists not only for the public side but the private side as well."

The $4.3 million is part of the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The money is designed to improve communities with high foreclosure rates one neighborhood at a time.

"Again, allowing us to attract private development which then allows us to bring forward some good housing and oftentimes it is housing at a very affordable pricing," said Gov. John Lynch, D-New Hampshire.

Berlin is one of five New Hampshire communities to receive a total of $19.6 million in neighborhood stabilization funds.

Adam Sullivan - WCAX News