City of Emporia secures $500,000 Hope VI funding for downtown housing project
February 13, 2024
The City of Emporia, along with Emporia Main Street and Ben Moore Studio, has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to revitalize a building in downtown Emporia.
Emporia is one of just three communities that are getting a share of $2 million in funding as part of HUD’s Hope IV Main Street Program, which “seeks to rejuvenate older downtown business districts while retaining the area’s traditional and historic character.” To achieve this, HUD works with smaller communities in the development of affordable housing in connection with a Main Street revitalization effort to reconfigure obsolete commercial buildings or offices into rent-producing affordable housing.
The building, located at 502 Commercial St., will be converted into seven housing units, with four located on the garden level of the building and three located on the second story, according to owner Ben Moore. The front 1,500 square feet of the building will be renovated for retail space, while the back space, where the Emporia Main Street office was formerly located, will be converted into an Airbnb rental.
In total, the project represents $2.8 million in development in downtown Emporia. While Moore is no stranger to Emporia development, this is his first solo venture.