FARRELL Development group sets plans for 25 energy-efficient houses

The project would foster home ownership.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- A Pittsburgh-based construction company has formed a partnership with a community-based development group to build 25 highly energy-efficient houses in Farrell.
Barnes/Miles Global Community Development wants to build the first five of those houses on land owned by Southwest Gardens Economic Development Corp.
Emmett Miles, chief executive officer, and Lamar Barnes, president, outlined the $2.1 million project during a city council work session Monday.
It's to be done in three phases over three years, Barnes said.
The two- and three-bedroom homes will cost between $70,000 and $80,000 each to build, but the company is looking at some public financial assistance grants that it hopes will cut the actual sale price to $25,000 to $35,000 each. That would make them available to low- and moderate-income families, Barnes said.
The homes are produced by Insulspan, a Michigan-based company, but Barnes/Miles will bring in a crew to oversee on-site construction and provide building trades construction education to local residents, Miles said.
The plan is to foster home ownership, create investment in the community, expose residents to the building trades and enhance the Farrell/Sharon Weed and Seed program.
This is the "seed" part of the Weed and Seed effort, Barnes said.
Funding sought
The company is looking at a number of funding sources to finance the $365,000 first phase of five homes.
Barnes said an application has already been filed with the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission seeking a $100,000 grant from the county's new Affordable Housing Trust. The company will also seek a $100,000 grant from the Weed and Seed program, he said.
Barnes said the company hopes to borrow $165,000 from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to complete the first phase funding.
He said the city may also be asked to contribute between $150,000 and $200,000, but it might not be in actual dollars allocated for construction.
Any money the city might be spending on street improvements or other infrastructure work in the area where the houses will be built can be counted as part of the city's contribution, Barnes said, noting that local effort will help support the company's application with PHFA.
The city may also have vacant lots it can donate to the building project, he said.
Zoning
The company listed six potential target sites owned by Southwest Gardens for the first phase, but city officials said those lots may not be large enough to meet city zoning regulations for new construction.
City zoning requires a minimum lot size of 7,500 square feet for residential construction and the Darr, Fruit and Hamilton avenues and Idaho Street lots mentioned by Barnes/Miles are probably not large enough, officials said.
Miles said the company will re-examine those locations but also look at any other sites the city might have available.
The plan is to start construction on the first units in August or September, he said.
City council members appeared to support the plan, indicating they will take a formal vote of support at their May 22 meeting.