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City’s goals could be met with proper funding

By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Two goals set forth by the city during a December meeting of the Blueprint Communities might be attained if funding is available. Mayor Judy Reed, chairman of the Blueprint Communities panel, said Wednesday that there is a potential for the city to acquire the former National Guard Armory and partner with Habitat for Humanity to construct a new home.

The issues will be discussed at a public meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall.

“Things are moving very quickly,” said Reed. “We hope to come up with ideas as to how the Armory can be used and self-sustaining and how a new home can be built.”

The city is among the 22 communities across the state chosen by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLB), state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and other funding agencies to receive comprehensive training, technical assistance and funding opportunities for hometown revitalization through the Blueprint Communities initiative.

As part of the program, the city was to submit five projects it deemed as vital to improve the community. In addition to the acquisition of the Armory and new home construction, other proposals included the development of a walkway along the Youghiogheny River, the cosmetic refurbishing of existing downtown businesses and Brimstone corner and the upgrade of the Connellsville Community Center auditorium.

Reed said that a member of the blueprint panel has been in discussion with the state National Guard Department of General Services and the city has been given the first option to purchase the property at an approximate cost of $50,000.

The West Washington Avenue property was built in 1902 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The two-story structure served as the home base for soldiers assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor unit until last year when the unit transferred to the new readiness center constructed along Rock Ridge Road in Connellsville Township.

Reed, meanwhile, said that the property could be used as a youth center, museum, or as a rental facility for weddings, parties and other functions.

“There are many ideas floating around, but it is very important that if it is purchased by the city, it not become a burden on the taxpayers,” she said. “We would want it to pay for itself.”

The new home construction initiative, would also include partnering with financial institutions, realtors and local businesses to defray costs, said Reed, but would result in a residence for a needy family.

Reed said that no official action will take place until a plan for each initiative is formulated.

“This is what we want to discuss at the meeting,” she said. “We need to come up with a plan.”

The meeting will be held in city council chambers.

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