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Renew Indianapolis, city team up to give vacant homes life

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Renew Indianapolis is giving vacant homes a new lease.

In partnership with the Department of Metropolitan Development, Renew pulls homes from the Indianapolis Land Bank and sells the houses to responsible buyers.

In 2016, Renew Indianapolis sold 47 homes. Recently, the nonprofit closed on its 100th property for 2017. Mayor Joe Hogsett congratulated Conrad Lambey, who purchased the 100th property.

The houses purchased this year will return $11 million of assessed value to the city’s tax rolls.

“It makes me excited to see this happen, and it is happening block after block. That makes me happy,” said Bruce Baird, executive director of Renew Indianapolis.

Residents who live near 17th Street and College Avenue are excited about the investments in their neighborhood.

“I think it is great. It is doing the neighborhood a lot of justice. It is up-and-coming,” resident Jimmy Quarles said.

The department is working on a new website that will make the process of reviewing and purchasing properties from the city’s Land Bank easier to use.