NORWICH – Last week, construction began on one of the three homes that will be part of the City of Norwich’s Restore New York program, and on Monday, construction on a second home in the project began.

In January of 2007, the city received a grant for $300,000 as part of the Restore New York Grant program. The funds were awarded to allow the city to tear down dilapidated properties and build new, functional structures in their place.

As part of the city’s program, three condemned houses were torn down and new residences will be built and sold to first-time home buyers.

At the June meeting of the City of Norwich Common Council, bids for the construction of the three homes were awarded. R.L. Yale Construction of Pitcher was awarded the bid for two of the homes. Yale will be the general contractor for the property located at 52 Fair St. and 23 Grove Ave. His bid of $169,500 for each structure was accepted. Construction on both of the properties has begun.