Bing's Project 14 Expands To More Neighborhoods
DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit Police officers that do not live within the city limits now have more of an incentive to move back to the Motor City.
Mayor Dave Bing's Project 14 program that offers incentives to police officers to get them to buy a home and move back to the city is expanding to include two more neighborhoods - North Rosedale Park and Green Acres.
"I think the reason that we wanted to expand into two other neighborhoods is because there weren't enough homes in the first two neighborhoods. So we looked at homes into some other neighborhoods where they showed an interest and I think that's going to be very positive," says Bing. Project 14 already included East English Village and Boston-Edison areas.
Police Chief Ralph Godbee says officers who are interested should get moving. "Get in early because as people see the success of this program and as we see the reinvestment in our community and police officers living in those homes and how it will help mend a community together, people will be begging for a second round," says Godbee.
Officer Booker Riggs tells WWJ he is moving from Southfield back to the city. "First of all, it's moving back into the city, the place where I really want to be. The incentive package makes it financially able," he says.
Project 14 - which is police code for "return to normal operations" - was launched in February. The program allows officers to buy a home with a $1000 down payment. They would also have to qualify for a mortgage to cover the remaining costs.
Art Van Furniture has also said it will give a $1000 gift card to the first 14 participants in the project.
