The Ellis County Press: First phase of home replacements begins

First phase of home replacements begins
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Editor on 02/13/2003 00:00:00


JOEY DAUBEN
The Ellis County Press
FERRIS - Mayor Jimmie Birdwell fulfilled one of his campaign promises when
bulldozers rumbled through a Ferris housing section Monday and began tearing
down homes as part of the federal government's Home Program.
Applicants, who usually are lower-income families, applied to obtain remodeling
of their existing homes, or a new home altogether.
Birdwell said during last year's mayoral campaign the home program was tops on
his list.
He said he led a previous council through the money grant process, but after
retiring from his mayor's seat, the home program did not go forward.
Now, Birdwell said, Ferris has received a $300,000 grant to tear down five
residents' homes and rebuild each of them a new brick home on the existing lots.
In addition, one home in Ferris qualified for being rehabilitated.