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Focus on Community Development |
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Fall 2004 |
Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority |
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Lancaster County
Redevelopment Authority
Board of Directors
Cindy Stewart, Chairman
Edward Hollinger, Vice Chairman
Ralph Murray, Sr., Treasurer
Neil Kinsey, Assistant Treasurer
Miriam Fletcher
Lancaster
County Commissioners
Howard “Pete” Shaub, Chairman
Dick Shellenberger, Vice Chairman
Molly Henderson
Executive
Director
Randy S. Patterson
The preparation of this newsletter was financed through a
Community Development
Block Grant
from the U. S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development.
Any questions or comments concerning information printed in this
newsletter should be addressed to:
Steve Glatfelter,
Community Development Assistant
150 North Queen Street, Suite 110
Lancaster, PA 17603-3562
Phone: (717) 394-0793
Fax: (717) 394-7635
Email:
sglatfelter@lchra.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Director's Message
Larkspur Crossing
Townhomes
Center Square
Apartments
Walnut
Street Apartments
Proposed Funding for 2005
Public
Improvements/Infrastructure Projects
Housing Activities
Homeless Prevention Activities
Economic Development Activities
Public Service Activities
Clipper Magazine Stadium
Updates
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Executive Director’s Message
The Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) Program celebrated its 30th anniversary
this year. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program will
celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2005. Both of
these programs have channeled needed federal dollars to
Lancaster County to develop affordable housing for our
workforce; construct and improve the infrastructure of our
communities; provide community facilities; and enable families
and individuals to receive services addressing critical needs.
I do not believe it is a stretch to say that many neighborhoods
and communities in Lancaster County would be a much different
place today were it not for the more than $100 million in CDBG
and HOME dollars the County has invested in these activities
during the past 30 years.
Despite this investment, unmet
needs continue to exist. In the case of affordable housing, the
need is increasing, not decreasing. Without the CDBG and HOME
dollars it would be almost impossible to develop the affordable
rental housing that non-profit developers such as the Housing
Development Corporation, Community Basics and CAP Housing have
built in the County. Private capital simply does not exist at
this time to cover the costs of developing housing that is
affordable to our workforce, the elderly and persons with
disabilities. CDBG and HOME dollars provide the needed
investment to encourage the private sector to invest in
affordable housing projects through the Low Income Housing Tax
Credit Program.
Despite the successes of the
County’s CDBG and HOME Programs over the past 30 years, the
funding for these programs is in jeopardy. In 2005 the County
will receive a 5% cut in CDBG funds and a 4.7% cut in HOME
funds. It is anticipated that the CDBG and HOME Programs will
receive additional cuts in the federal 2005-2006 budget.
As construction costs continue to
rise, the projected loss of additional CDBG and HOME dollars to
Lancaster County mean fewer infrastructure projects will be
funded, fewer affordable housing units will be built, and fewer
existing homes of low and moderate income families will be
repaired. Cuts will be made in services provided to struggling
families and individuals. Financial and technical assistance to
small businesses will be curtailed.
Local communities and the County
do not have the financial resources to replace these lost
dollars. If the County is to continue addressing critical
housing and infrastructure needs represented by the programs and
projects included in this newsletter, we must preserve the CDBG
and HOME funding streams through the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development.
Sincerely,
Randy S. Patterson
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Update on
Larkspur Crossing Townhomes
Site work, including initial
grading and putting in streets and sanitary sewer lines, and
utilities work has been started in the Larkspur Crossing
Apartments Project in Manheim Township. Phase IV of the
Bloomfield Development, this project consists of the
construction of 29 new townhouses. Phase I was Aster Place,
which was completed in 1997, and consisted of 60 two- and
three-bedroom apartments. Bloomfield, Phase I and Bloomfield,
Phase II followed.
Owned by the Housing Development
Corporation (HDC), the Larkspur Crossing Apartments Project is
projected to be completed by late summer 2005. EG Stoltzfus
Construction, LLC is serving as general contractor, while
Melanie LeFevre of Lefevre Funk Architects, Inc. is the project
architect. Total estimated construction cost for the project is
$2,690,167, with a HOME Investment Partnership Funds loan of
$725,000 from the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority.
Leasing information can be
obtained by calling Housing Development Corporation at 291-1911.
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Construction Work Continues on
Center Square Apartments
Six units are completed – five
two-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom apartment – in the
Three Center Square Apartments housing project in the Village of
Maytown, with construction of the other 17 general occupancy
apartments continuing. Occupancy of the completed units is to
start soon.
Working with the Maytown
Historical Society, the general contractor on the project, Elam
G. Stoltzfus, Inc., is trying to preserve as much of the
historical accuracy as possible of the two buildings. The
Washington House was built circa 1780, while the other
structure, known as the Gable-Hoffman Store, dates back to the
late nineteenth century.
Volunteers from the Society have
been supplying historical photos and their expert opinions.
According to Society member Gordon Mell, the builders were going
to put in railings with square posts, and after showing them
photos from the early 1900’s of the original railing, it was
decided to put in more historically-accurate railings with round
posts. Mell, who visits the work site frequently (the
Historical Society’s museum is right next door), joked, “We’re
keeping our eye on them.”
Also completed is a parking lot
for additional tenant parking. It is hoped that the other units
will be completed by early spring 2005.
With an estimated construction
cost of $1,904,450, the project is being partially funded by the
Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority, with $957,846 from the
HOME Investment Partnership Program and $366,445 from the
Brownfields for Housing Program. The remaining funds for the
project were provided by the Lancaster Housing Opportunity
Partnership and Fulton Bank.
Owned by Community Basics, Inc.,
the project’s architectural firm is Tippetts/Weaver, with Gary
Weaver serving as project architect.
Leasing information can be
obtained by calling the Lancaster City Housing Authority at
397-2835.
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Construction Underway on
Walnut Street Apartments
About 25% of the construction work
of the Walnut Street Apartments Project has been completed.
Located at 117 South Walnut Street in the Borough of Lititz, the
project consists of converting an existing industrial building
into 18 general occupancy apartments. Owned by two general
partners – Community Basics, Inc. and CAP Housing Corporation,
the project is being built by the general contractor EG
Stoltzfus Construction, LLC. The architectural firm on the
project is LeFevre Funk Architects, Inc., with Melanie LeFevre
serving as project architect.
At this point in time, much of the
site work has been completed. The roof is finished, exterior
sheathing is going in, and the hanging of drywall has begun.
Plumbing and electrical “rough-in’s” are well underway, and work
on drilling wells for ground source heat pumps will be started
soon.
In addition, Walnut Street itself
has been extended a block or so, and a parking lot for residents
has been rough-graded.
Overall, the project is expected
to be completed about one month ahead of schedule, by July of
2005. $243,823 in Community Development Block Grant Funds and
$206,177 in Brownfields for Housing Funds from the Lancaster
County Redevelopment Authority make up part of the total
estimated construction cost of $1,750,570.
Leasing information can be
obtained by calling the Lancaster City Housing Authority at
397-2835.
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Fiscal Year 2005
Annual Action Plan
Proposed Funding |
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The Lancaster County Redevelopment
Authority each year publishes a document titled the
Annual Action Plan, which details how the
County intends to spend the Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG)
and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds
allocated from the U. S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). The Authority’s Board of
Directors endorsed the following projects on October
26, 2004 and the County Commissioners, in turn,
approved the projects on November 17, 2004.
Projects will begin sometime after January, 2005.
Below is listed the approved projects, with funding
amounts and brief descriptions. |
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Public Improvements/Infrastructure Projects
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Street Reconstruction/Neighborhood Improvements |
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NORTH 6TH STREET NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT |
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Total Project Cost:
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$315,000 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$240,350 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$230,000 |
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Project will reconstruct a street
and make storm water improvements to a lower income
neighborhood in Columbia Borough to correct
insufficient storm water management that creates
hazardous conditions. |
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NORTH MARKET STREET NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT |
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Total Project Cost:
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$389,373 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$250,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$225,000 |
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Project will replace curb and
sidewalk to alleviate problems caused by a failing
storm water system in a lower income neighborhood in
Mount Joy Borough. |
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WEST FERDINAND AND GRANT STREETS
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT |
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Total Project Cost:
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$627,069 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$243,143 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$206,000 |
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Project will provide street
reconstruction and replacement of water lines in a
lower income neighborhood in Manheim Borough. |
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Water and Sewer Improvements |
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CONESTOGA MANOR SEWER EXTENSION |
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Total Project Cost:
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$793,975 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$171,426 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$165,000 |
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Project will give access to public
sanitary sewer to correct failing on-lot sewer
systems in a lower income neighborhood in West Earl
Township. Thirty-eight (38) households will
benefit from this project. |
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VINTAGE SEWER EXTENSION |
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Total Project Cost:
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$398,922 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$250,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$240,000 |
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Project will give access to public
sanitary sewer to correct failing on-lot sewer
system in a lower income neighborhood in Paradise
Township. Twenty-five (25) households will benefit
from this project. |
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FAIRVIEW AND EAST MAIN STREETS SEWER
AND WATER EXTENSION |
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Total Project Cost:
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$275,771 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$220,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$164,000 |
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Project will extend public sanitary
sewer and improve water mains to correct failing
on-lot sewer systems and to improve water pressure.
Terre Hill Borough will provide these improvements
to a lower income neighborhood in East Earl
Township. Thirty-five (35) households will benefit
from this project. |
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RED RUN SEWER EXTENSION |
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Total Project Cost:
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$345,380 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$250,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$200,000 |
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Project will give access to public
water and sanitary sewer to correct contaminated
wells and failing on-lot sewer systems. Terre Hill
Borough will provide these improvements to a lower
income neighborhood in East Earl Township. Sixteen
(16) households will benefit from this project. |
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Neighborhood Facilities Improvements |
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LANCASTER COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES
HVAC IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT — PHASE III |
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Total Project Cost:
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$295,230 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$236,184 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$230,000 |
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Project will replace the
deteriorated HVAC piping insulation and pipe hanger
systems, as well as replace the lighting fixtures
and fan/coil unit ventilators in Wing C of the
Lancaster County Health and Welfare Foundation
Building at 630 Janet Avenue, Lancaster. This
community facility provides low cost rent for twelve
(12) organizations providing social services to low-
and moderate-income persons. |
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LANCASTER COUNTY YWCA SAFETY AND
SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS |
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Total Project Cost:
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$53,779 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$42,329 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$40,000 |
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Project will install a security
system including alarms and surveillance cameras for
the 40-50 residents of the Lancaster County YWCA’s
transitional housing facility. The project also
includes the repair of stone steps at the Orange
Street entrance to increase accessibility and remove
hazardous conditions. |
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Housing Activities |
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ENERGY CONSERVATION CENTER |
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Total Project Cost:
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$1,269,571 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$150,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$150,000 |
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Community Action Program of
Lancaster County Weatherization Program provides
residential energy conservation measures which will
result in a reduction of the family’s energy
consumption costs and sustain decent affordable
housing.. The program will serve eighty (80)
residential units in the County, outside the City of
Lancaster. |
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HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM |
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Total Project Cost:
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$1,220,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$1,220,000 |
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This Lancaster County Redevelopment
Authority program provides financial and technical
assistance to approximately thirty-five (35) lower
income homeowners to rehabilitate their homes to
meet current building code standards and sustain
decent affordable housing. $220,000 of this amount
will be used for administration of the program. |
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HOMEOWNER’S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
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Total Project Cost:
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$10,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$10,000 |
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The Lancaster County Redevelopment
Authority provides financial assistance to
approximately fifteen (15) low- and moderate-income
homeowners to cover costs resulting from the
construction of public works projects on their
properties to sustain affordable housing.
Activities include curbs, sidewalks and utility
connections. |
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COMMUNITY HOMEBUYER PROGRAM |
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Total Project Cost: |
$175,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$175,000 |
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Lancaster Housing Opportunity
Partnership (LHOP) will assist approximately twenty
(20) income-eligible homebuyers to purchase a home
in the County, outside the City of Lancaster. CDBG
funds will be provided for down payments, closing
costs and second mortgages. |
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AMERICAN DREAM DOWNPAYMENT
INITIATIVE |
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Total Project Cost: |
$75,000 |
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HOME Funds Recommended: |
$75,000 |
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Project will provide eight (8)
participants in the Section 8 Homeownership Program
with access to affordable homeownership through a
program providing down payment and closing cost
assistance. |
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FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM |
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Total Project Cost: |
$170,000 |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$45,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$45,000 |
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The Lancaster County Human Relations
Commission will operate an educational,
investigative and legal enforcement program to
promote fair housing and to achieve compliance with
existing fair housing laws. |
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VACANT PROPERTY REINVESTMENT BOARD |
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Total Project Cost: |
$200,000
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$200,000 |
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The Lancaster County Redevelopment
Authority will acquire four (4) vacant, blighted
properties in the County of Lancaster and sell them
to private developers to rehabilitate the homes to
comply with building codes for eventual resale to
lower income homebuyers or for use as rental
properties. |
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RENTAL HOUSING PRODUCTION
PROGRAM—REHABILITATION |
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Total Project Cost: |
$5,100,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$900,000 |
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HOME Funds Recommended: |
$165,000 |
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Lancaster County Redevelopment
Authority provides funds for the rehabilitation of
approximately thirty-five (35) rental housing units
that will be in projects proposing the adaptive
reuse of non-residential structures or the
rehabilitation of existing rental units. $35,000 of
the budgeted CDBG amount will be used to administer
the program. |
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HOME RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAM—NEW
CONSTRUCTION |
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Total Project Cost: |
$4,420,000 |
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HOME Funds Recommended: |
$813,750 |
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The Lancaster County Redevelopment
Authority will use HOME funds to construct
approximately thirty-five (35) affordable rental
housing units. Assistance is provided in
conjunction with public and/or private local lending
institutions. |
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Homeless Prevention Activities |
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LANCASTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES
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Total Project Cost: |
$1,388,156 |
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ESG Funds Requested: |
$50,000
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ESG Funds Recommended: |
$40,100 |
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Formerly known as the Shelter for
Abused Women, this Community Action Program of
Lancaster County program provides comprehensive
services to approximately 2,200 victims of domestic
violence and their dependents annually. Domestic
Violence Services (DVS) has a capacity of forty (40)
women and children. ESG funds will be used to pay
for shelter operating expenses. |
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SHELTER TO INDEPENDENT LIVING |
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Total Project Cost: |
$304,091 |
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ESG Funds Requested: |
$33,000 |
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ESG Funds Recommended: |
$25,000 |
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This Tabor Community Services, Inc.
program provides housing counseling , case
management, information and referral, and advocacy
and education to homeless families residing in
emergency shelters and transitional housing
facilities in order to assist them in finding
housing and becoming self-sufficient. ESG funds
will be used to pay for essential services.
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CRISPUS ATTUCKS COMMUNITY CENTER
SHELTER |
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Total Project Cost: |
$252,237 |
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ESG Funds Requested: |
$41,818 |
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ESG Funds Recommended: |
$25,500 |
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Crispus Attucks Community Center
operates a 20-bed emergency shelter for homeless
men, women and children. Project requests funds for
essential services to provide case management
services to the residents of the emergency Shelter
to enable them to access permanent affordable
housing. Funds are also requested to operate the
shelter. ($14,000 for operations and $11,500 for
essential services) |
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CLARE HOUSE |
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Total Project Cost: |
$192,330 |
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ESG Funds Requested: |
$15,000
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ESG Funds Recommended: |
$12,400 |
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Clare House provides transitional
housing for single women and their children to help
them to access permanent affordable housing.
Services include case management, information and
referral, daily support and guidance, parenting and
nutrition classes, children and family activities,
and aftercare. ESG funds will be used for
operational support and essential services. ($8,400
for operations and $4,000 for essential services) |
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TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER |
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Total Project Cost: |
$461,535 |
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ESG Funds Requested: |
$40,613 |
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ESG Funds Recommended: |
$28,500 |
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Transitional Living Center (TLC),
formerly known as HARB-ADULT, provides transitional
housing for single men and women, couples and
families. In addition, clients receive individual
guidance and support to empower them with the skills
and disciplines necessary to gain long-term
self-sufficiency and permanent housing. TLC offers
fifty-four (54) rooms. ESG funds will be used to
cover a portion of the operations. |
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UNITED VETERANS BEACON HOUSE
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Total Project Cost: |
$25,500 |
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ESG Funds Requested: |
$3,900 |
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ESG Funds Recommended: |
$3,500 |
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United Veterans Beacon House, Inc.,
located in Akron Borough, provides transitional
housing to homeless veterans, as well as assistance
and time to locate employment, and the support to
maintain a stable, drug-free lifestyle that will
help the veteran to return to society as a valued
and productive citizen. ESG funds will be used to
cover operating costs. |
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Economic Development
Activities |
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ASSETS BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$40,000
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$40,000 |
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ASSETS (A Service of Self-Employment
Training and Support) provides thirteen (13) weeks
of small business training in both English and
Spanish for micro-enterprises, one-on-one mentoring,
small business loans and other technical support.
Approximately twenty-five (25) County
micro-enterprises will be helped to sustain their
businesses. |
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COMMUNITY FIRST FUND, INC. |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$60,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$60,000 |
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Community First Fund, Inc. provides
technical assistance and loans to start-up or
existing micro-enterprises. Eight (8) new business
loans are expected to be made to micro-enterprises,
creating fifteen (15) new jobs to be provided to
low- and moderate-income people to help them to
sustain their businesses. |
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LANCASTER COUNTY ENTREPRENEURIAL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$30,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$30,000 |
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BASE, Inc. offers business
counseling, technical assistance, seminars, and
resources at the one-stop entrepreneurial center.
The project proposes to assist thirty-five (35) low-
and moderate-income entrepreneurs to sustain their
business. |
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LANCASTER COUNTY MICRO-ENTERPRISE
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
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CDBG Funds Requested: |
$100,000 |
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CDBG Funds Recommended: |
$100,000 |
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The Lancaster County Redevelopment
Authority, through Community First Fund, will
provide gap financing to approximately eight (8) new
or existing micro-enterprises located in Lancaster
County, outside of the City of Lancaster, to help
them to sustain their businesses. Loan funds may
be used for working capital; to acquire, construct,
or rehabilitate facilities; or the purchase of
equipment. |
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Public Service Activities |
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Provides
coordinated and comprehensive basic human services
for low- and moderate-income families and persons
with emphasis on assisting those programs which
serve the needs of residents living in neighborhoods
in which other CDBG-funded activities are
concentrated. |
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In an
effort to coordinate the community’s human/public
service funding sources, the application process for
the County’s CDBG public service funds will be
delayed until January, 2005 to coincide with
Lancaster County’s State-funded Human Services
Development Fund (HSDF) allocation process.
Applications are due in February 2005, and
allocation decisions will be made by April 2005.
Contracts will begin July 1, 2005. |
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Anticipated total CDBG funding to be made available
for 2005: |
$665,000 |
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click above for construction updates on the
Clipper Magazine Stadium |
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