COLUMBIANA CO. East Palestine housing complex funding sought

Several projects throughout the county were awarded federal grant dollars.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- An area charitable agency intends to seek a $713,000 federal grant to build a housing complex in or near East Palestine to benefit needy seniors and to boost the city's sagging population.
Columbiana County commissioners agreed Wednesday to write a letter of support for the project.
The Way Station of Columbiana, a private, non-profit agency that provides social services to needy people, is undertaking the effort and sought the letter.
Plans call for applying for a federal housing and urban development grant to build a 15-apartment building, consisting mostly of one-bedroom residences.
Sarah Lederle, a spokeswoman for The Way Station, said the grant would cover all the anticipated costs for the project.
Gary Clark, East Palestine city manager, said city officials support the effort.
The apartment complex is expected to be located within the city. Two sites are being considered, but their locations aren't being disclosed right now because negotiations are under way, Lederle said.
Seniors age 62 or older with low or moderate incomes will qualify to live in the building, which will be open to county residents only.
Lederle did not know when construction on the structure might begin.
East Palestine was picked as the project spot because the city and surrounding area have a sizable elderly population in need of housing.
Another reason is that East Palestine, with a population of about 5,000, is in danger of forfeiting its city status, Lederle said.
Federal and state guidelines require a community to have a population of 5,000 to be considered a city.
Project funding
In other business at their meeting Wednesday, commissioners allocated Community Development Block Grant Money to aid in funding several projects throughout the county. In most cases the CDBG money will have to be coupled with other funds to pay for the entire cost of the undertaking.
Efforts receiving the funding include:
UA $288,401 waterline extension project in Leetonia that is getting $61,286.
UA $101,630 effort to improve a section of Cameron Road in Madison Township is getting $50,000. Part of the road will be widened and a hill over which it passes will be lowered.
UA $90,000 effort to install an elevator in a former bank building along Market Street in Lisbon will get $40,000. Using a special court fund, the county bought the two-story structure recently. The first floor will serve as a law library. The second floor will house county offices. Commissioners have yet to decide which county agency will be placed there.