Work will include sewer lines

The target neighborhood is one of the city's oldest.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A somewhat forgotten neighborhood tucked away on the city's southeast end will come alive this summer as a number of infrastructure improvements are made.
Mayor Ralph A. Infante said construction will begin in midsummer, and much of it is being done with a $300,000 distressed-cities grant. City funds also will be used.
The mayor received word last August that the city had been awarded the grant from the Ohio Department of Development to help the low- to moderate-income neighborhood.
Thirty-three communities had sought a total $9.3 million for projects. In the end, 10 communities -- also including Girard in Trumbull County -- were awarded a total $3 million in grants.
Infante said the southeast end is about the oldest in the city with some of its sanitary sewer lines being 100 years old.
The projects include 4,000 feet of sidewalk replacement, 3,000 feet of sanitary sewers and 2,000 feet of storm sewers with 24 catch basins.
"The water just lies there," the mayor said of the area, because there are very few catch basins to collect storm water.
What's planned
About $111,600 will be spent to correct drainage problems on Ann and Thomas streets; Baldwin Street; Foster Street and Baldwin; Fenton and Baldwin; and Spring Street, from Walnut Street to Olive street.
Another $124,000 will be spent on sidewalk construction along Spring, from Walnut to Olive; Olive, from Spring to Belmont Street; Scott Avenue, from Mason Street to Henry; and Grant Street, from Walnut to the railroad tracks.
About $161,000 has been allocated for sidewalk improvements in the neighborhood, the mayor explained, because so many are in disrepair.
Another $25,000 will be used to widen the intersection at Olive and Spring to accommodate truck traffic; and $10,000 for new and updated playground equipment at Murphy Park.
A vacant house on Pratt Street will be razed using the distressed cities grant.
Some $90,000 in Community Development Block Grants for 2005 will be leveraged with city funds for a sanitary sewer project that will cost between $500,000 and $600,000. It will run along Forest Street, between Baldwin and Belmont. Larger lines will be installed along with laterals to each residence.
No sewage backup
Infant said the lines are designed so sewage doesn't back up into basements during heavy rainfalls.
Infante said funds from a Community Housing Improvement Program, or CHIP, grant will allow rehabilitation of four low- to moderate-income occupied homes.
The city has funds available for the CHIP program, which is used to make repairs to homes occupied by those with low incomes, make emergency repairs, rehabilitate rental property, and for down payments for first-time home buyers.
The CHIP grant, Infante noted, is administered by CT Consultants Inc. of Austintown to assure there is no favoritism shown in the distribution of the money.
yovich@vindy.com