LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new fund is providing low-interest loans to help restore neglected historic homes in Louisville. Louisville Metro Government and the Owsley Brown II Family Foundation are giving $1 million to the Vital Sites’ loan fund.
Kaila Washington and Gaberiel Jones Jr. can see a future in a 135-year-old mansion.
“We used to sit outside this house, right on the other side of that gate, right there when it was empty. It was covered in vines and Virginia creeper. You could barely tell there were windows and doors. It wasn’t for sale, but we would talk about our hypothetical plans for it, our dreams for it,” said Washington.
Spectrum News 1 first spoke with Washington and Jones last summer, one year after they bought the 16 room Victorian home for $60,000.
“We couldn’t really do anything outside until we got it water tight. It took about a year and a half to find somebody who was capable of doing that job, but also available and willing to do such a big project,” said Jones Jr.
In the last year, the pair has cleared the floors, installed new windows and they are seeing a vision of what this home could turn into.
“This will be our main hangout spot up here. We’re still in a constant argument of whether there will be a shuffleboard table or not, because Gabe wants a shuffleboard table,” said Washington.
Now, with help from the Vital Sites’ loan fund, Washington and Jones Jr. are receiving up to $75,000 to help restore their home.
“This loan is specifically for homes that need a little bit more love in this area and in this part of town. It’s a big chance for us,” said Jones Jr.
As many as 15,000 Kentucky structures like theirs qualify for these low-interest loans.
No matter the cost, the pair can already see a future in this home.
“Opportunities like this one, it is a real possibility for us to put this place back together and for this to be the example of our love for this community and the people in it that we can leave behind,” said Jones Jr.
Some neighborhoods the loans are focused on are Griffytown, Beechmont, Smoketown, Shelby Park and Taylor Berry.
Metro Government has set up a website to determine if a property is eligible for the loan.