New public housing set at former Lemon Wood Acres
The third time was the charm for a proposal to build new public housing on the former site of Lemon Wood Acres in North Union Township Thursday, as the Fayette County Housing Authority voted 3-2 to move forward with the plan. The resolution approved by the board includes utilizing capital fund revenue bonds, and the submission of applications for grants with the state Department of Economic and Community Development and Replacement Housing Factor Funds, for a $14 million project to build 55 mixed-income residential units on the site.
Voting in favor of the project were James V. Bitonti, Nancy Sutton and William “Trip” Radcliffe. Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink and Beverly Beal voted against it. In the previous two months, the proposal was raised and ended in a 2-2 vote.
Executive Director Thomas L. Harkless previously explained that the proposal calls for using capital fund revenue bonds and 4-percent, low-income housing tax credit funds as well as DCED grant money. He said applications will likely be submitted in the calendar year 2006.
In a related matter, Harkless reported that he recently met with Dr. Ronald Sheba, superintendent of the Laurel Highlands School District, regarding a proposed land swap between the FCHA and the school district.
Harkless said the school district was interested in acquiring Lemon Wood Acres property to have a road to its senior high facilities on Bailey Avenue, but the authority cannot sell the land unless low- to moderate-income housing units are built on it. Because the proposal for rebuilding on the site changed from a project with home ownership units to a project without home ownership units, there was no longer FCHA plans for construction of a road.
The original plans for rebuilding on the Lemon Wood Acres site included 55 to 56 rental units and 20 home ownership units, but the proposal now calls for only rental units.
Harkless said he thinks a land swap would be a good idea for the whole neighborhood . He suggested the board move forward with discussions.