FARRELL Developer asks city to find sites

Finding a concentrated group of building sites is a key to securing financing.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- The developer behind a plan to build 25 energy-efficient homes in Farrell needs help from the city in finding building sites.
Emmett Miles, chief executive officer of Barnes/Miles Global Community Development of Pittsburgh, told city council Monday that a bid for a $165,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency was denied because his company had only scattered sites to offer as building lots.
PHFA wants to see a concentration of homes in a block rather than scattered sites, he said, adding that he plans to reapply for the assistance again in December once new sites are found.
"I'm all ready to go," Miles said, explaining that he needs the city's help in pinpointing new building sites.
Barnes/Miles approached the city in May, saying it had formed a partnership with Southwest Gardens Economic Development Corp., a nonprofit community development group in Farrell, to build its first five houses on land owned by the agency.
Miles said at the time that the 25-house project cost would be $2.1 million and would be done in three phases over three years.
Ground broken
His company recently broke ground at Spearman Avenue and Union Street on its first model house and wants to build five houses in the first project phase.
Miles told council that his company has a number of sites available but they are too scattered to meet PHFA's requirement.
The $165,000 his company is seeking from PHFA is part of the $365,000 needed to build the first five houses, he said.
The key is finding building sites in a single block, Miles said.
Mayor William Morocco advised Miles to meet with the city code officer and the Farrell Redevelopment Authority, which actually holds title to all city-owned land.
Those two sources should be able to help Barnes/Miles find appropriate building sites, he added.
gwin@vindy.com