Percy Lyle is charismatic with an easy smile and a voice made for radio — which fits. He’s retired after working as a radio personality and communications professional for most of his life.
Percy has lived in his home in northeast Denver for decades. Like many areas of Denver, homes in his neighborhood are being torn down and replaced with bigger, newer homes. But Percy liked the home he had — despite its sinking foundation, cracked walls and crumbling driveway. To him, it just needed a little TLC.
The fixes weren’t going to be cheap, however. Percy lives on a limited income and needed a loan with payments he could afford. So, he turned to the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, or DURA.
DURA offers grants — which don’t have to be paid back — and very low-interest loans that can be perpetually deferred, meaning Percy wouldn’t have to make payments until he sold or refinanced his home.
Percy called DURA, talked to housing program staff and completed the paperwork. The next thing he knew, DURA contractors were on the job. They re-poured a new driveway, used mechanical jacks to lift and fix his foundation, and repaired the walls inside his house so you’d never know it had been slowly sinking into itself.
DURA staff managed the project, managed the DURA-approved contractor, and worked closely with Percy to make sure there were no surprises.
“When people walk by my house, look at my house, they smile,” said Percy. “I know I made the right choice.”
Looks like he’ll be staying in his home for quite a while longer.
