NEW CASTLE, PA. Grant is slated for housing, cleanup

Council is considering applying for more housing-rehabilitation money.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The bulk of a $732,000 Community Development Block Grant would benefit the city's low- to moderate-income residents.
New Castle City Council will conduct a public hearing at 7 tonight to gather input about the use of CDBGs and possible state money for housing rehabilitation and neighborhood cleanup.
Of the CDBG, $50,000 would be for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and $5,000 for demolition and site cleanup.
An additional $160,000 would be used for code enforcement for "eliminating slum and blight and code violations in distressed area neighborhoods throughout the city," the proposal states.
Other planned expenditures are $130,000 for improvements to streets and the Cascade Park Bridge, $82,000 for firefighting equipment and about $12,000 to cut out curbs on Mercer Street for accessibility of the handicapped.
Additional money
In addition, at its Feb. 11 meeting, council discussed applying to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for up to $400,000 to rehabilitate low- to moderate-income homes.
The economic development grant would be used in 2004.
City Administrator John DiMuccio has suggested that the city continue to offer housing rehabilitation by lottery or by focusing on a particular neighborhood or age group.
DiMuccio said the city should apply for the economic development grant by the end of March to receive the money by the end of the year or early in 2004.