FARRELL City approves second phase of HOPE VI housing project
More than 30 of more than 140 new housing units are already under construction.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- The first phase of the rebuilding of the Steel City Terrace public housing complex along Spearman Avenue is only half done, but city council has already approved work on a second phase.
It isn't a city project, but the Mercer County Housing Authority, which owns Steel City, and its development partner, Falbo-Penrose of Pittsburgh, need city approval for the redevelopment of the site.
The plan is to replace the 100-unit barracks-style apartments with more than 140 units in duplexes, four-plexes and single-unit homes at a total cost of about $30 million.
The new housing is being done in what is called a "traditional neighborhood development" which has the apartments spread out and built in a style that blends in with the surrounding residential community to avoid the appearance of a housing project.
The first phase involves 53 apartment units, with 31 of them now under construction, and 12 single-family homes.
The second phase, which got city council's blessing Thursday, calls for 63 apartments and 13 more single-family homes.
Source of funding
Additional units will come later.
The project is dubbed HOPE VI after the federal grant program that is contributing $9 million to the effort. Other revenue sources include state low-income tax credits and the authority's own money.
In other action at its meeting Thursday, council agreed to write off a $3,000 demolition lien against a property at 909 Fruit Ave. so that Jesus' Church Faith Christian Ministries can buy it.
The Rev. Ralph Newell of Jesus' Church, at 901 Fruit Ave., asked council to forgive the lien so that his church can buy the lot for $500.
The city paid to have a building on the lot demolished several years ago and placed a lien on the land in hopes of recovering that expenditure some day.