Daily Blog: North Richland Hills, Texas

What happens when urban decay reaches mid-sized cities?

http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/1418877.html?storylink=omni_popular

In North Richland Hills, Texas, the city is working hard to update and renovate its older houses. But rather than use the heavy hand of regulation and coercion, this city is offering a helping hand:

"This Northeast Tarrant County city of 66,000 proposes adding programs that for the first time include financial incentives for homeowners to make improvements. The incentives include a city matching grant — already offered to some businesses that renovate — to help homeowners finance small projects, such as painting or porch repairs.

The city also plans to expand a volunteer program that helps with yard cleanup and minor repairs for residents who are physically or financially unable to do the work themselves."

A community's beauty impacts everyone in the community. But how the community goes about preserving that beauty is also important. In North Richland Hills, that means working together to create a more livable and beautiful place.