The Extreme Dream Project will provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to 100,000 dollars for people to rehab homes along Gaines Street, from 5th to Locust streets.
Third Ward Alderman Marion Meginnis says this neighborhood has a long history of "dis-investment," and that fixing up homes along Gaines will require an extreme effort.
"It's difficult to do if you're trying to do it piecemeal. This is an effort in a focused area, and hopefully we'll be able to replicate this in other areas of our city down the road as well."
She emphasizes it costs the city a lot of money to do nothing, in mowing the grass and possible demolition, as well as lost taxes.
The city's Economic Development Manager, Susanne Knutsen, says applications for the Extreme Dream Project are available on Davenport's website, and staff will start reviewing them in June.
"We don't want just the bare minimum done, we have up to 100,000 dollars per project in matching funds. We want people to make these projects shine and I anticipate if somebody gives us a lackluster application, that we go back to them and say, can you do more."
The city has identified 32 properties along the Gaines Street corridor that could qualify for the project - by having been vacant for at least six months and having severe building code violations.