Hopkinsville council amends Legacy Hopkinsville rehab incentives, adds demolition aid and changes eligibility rules

Hopkinsville — The City Council on Jan. 6 adopted changes to two related housing programs designed to preserve older housing stock in designated “Legacy Hopkinsville” neighborhoods and to encourage rehabilitation.

Holly Boggess, who presented the committee recommendations, said the rental rehabilitation amendments require applicants to file within 120 days of acquiring a property, refocus incentives on investments such as weatherization and energy-efficiency upgrades, and retain a five-year forgivable mortgage structure. She said funding for rental-rehabilitation projects is limited to $10,000 per unit under the revised rental program and that the committee recommended adding a demolition line item to provide up to $8,000 toward removal of unsafe structures.

“The funding is limited to $10,000 per unit,” Boggess said. “There is a recommendation included to allow some extensions if warranted for weather related delays.”

On the closely related homeowner-side program, Boggess told the council the committee recommended eliminating the existing 25%‑of‑assessed‑value rule and instead setting a $15,000 cap per property, with up to an additional $10,000 available in extenuating circumstances — but not to exceed $25,000 in any case. For projects valued at $6,000 or more the program will require a mortgage and promissory note recorded at contract signing and forgiven 20% per year over five years.

“They’re recommending that the 25% rule be eliminated, that there be a cap placed of $15,000 per property,” Boggess said.

Council members debated whether legacy program funds should remain limited to designated legacy/inner‑city areas or be opened to citywide applicants. Several members argued general tax dollars should be available to all residents; staff and committee members responded that the legacy boundaries were originally based on census tracts, housing stock age and low‑to‑moderate income measures and that expanding eligibility would require additional funding and updated analysis.

Mayor (unnamed) said staff would prepare language and bring survey or budget options back to council for further consideration. Holly Boggess reported remaining program funds (less encumbrances) of $60,393.42 as of December and estimated the program processes about 20–25 projects per year under current rules.

The council adopted Municipal Order 01/2026 (rental rehabilitation incentives amendment) and Municipal Order 02/2026 (housing empowerment plan provisions) by voice votes. Both measures direct program administration steps, funding sources, and processing rules and list the Christian County Hopkinsville Development Corporation LDC as the approval authority for funding considerations.

What happens next: Council directed staff to refine language and present the matter again in committee and at the next council meeting; members indicated any citywide expansion would require additional budget discussion and analysis.