Redevelopment authority to build 30 new houses
Construction of 30 new single-family homes in Uniontown’s East End through a joint venture could begin in July, Uniontown Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Mark Yauger said Tuesday. He also told board members that about five more properties have to be purchased in the North Gallatin Avenue neighborhood to have all the lots needed for a separate joint venture to build 25 new homes.
“It’s coming our way,” Yauger said.
In the East End, 17 of the houses would be built in an undeveloped parcel off of Bailey Avenue and the remaining 13 would be built on vacant lots scattered throughout the neighborhood, he said.
The authority applied in December for a $500,000 state grant to build the houses in a partnership with Pearl Development of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, and Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc.
Yauger said the Department of Community and Economic Development has not yet approved the grant application, but believes it will be approved soon.
The houses will be sold through rent-to-own agreements aimed toward getting renters that meet income qualifications to own the homes after 15 years, he said.
The 25 homes planned for the North Gallatin Avenue neighborhood would be built through a venture involving the authority and Threshold Housing Development Inc. of Uniontown.
Yauger said the authority bought another lot last week and about five more lots are needed.
An application for construction money could be submitted to the state in July, he said.
Combined, the two projects would result in 55 new homes in the city, Yauger said.
“There’s a bright future on the horizon for the city,” Authority Vice Chairman Brian Ludy said.
Mayor Ed Fike the new homes would be a great benefit to the city.
In unrelated business, Yauger updated the board about the ongoing hiring process for the Main Street and Elm Street manager positions. He said he believes the Main Street job would be more difficult.
With assistance from the authority, the Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority received a five-year $160,000 state grant in August to hire a Main Street manager and a $30,000 grant for business fa?ade loans. The DBDA received public and private contributions toward the required $90,000 match for the $160,000 grant.
The manager’s job involves attracting businesses to the central business district downtown, promoting the district and raising money for improvements to the business district and to keep the program operating after the grant money runs out.
Twenty people applied for the Main Street manager’s job, but none of the four people interviewed “fit the mold,” Yauger said.
The annual salary for the position would be $34,000 to $38,000 and a benefits package.
Board member John Ptak, who served on the interview committee, said none of the people interviewed had specific ideas about how to raise money for the program.
Ptak said the manager’s grant-funded salary is less than some of the applicants’ salaries from their current or past jobs and applicants who fit the job description were accustomed to higher pay than the available salary.
“It’s a challenging position: No doubt about it,” Ptak said.
Yauger said the authority plans to interview two applicants for the Elm Street manager’s position Thursday.
The authority, Uniontown City Council and the Gallatin Avenue Concerned Citizens Association received three grants totaling $930,000 in August for the Elm Street program, which is intended to revitalize the residential neighborhood. Included was a $150,000 grant to pay the manager’s salary, benefits and office expenses for three years.
The Elm Street manager’s job would involve seeking additional grants for neighborhood improvements, raising money and promoting the neighborhood.
Tuesday’s meeting was the last one for board member James Cunningham.
He has been on the board since former Mayor James Sileo appointed him in May 2006, but was forced to resign because he moved out of the city.
The Urban Redevelopment Law requires redevelopment authority members to live or own a business in municipality that the authority serves, Yauger said.
Yauger and board members thanked Cunningham for his service.
Fike will have to appoint someone to serve the remainder of Cunningham’s term, which expires in July.
In other business, the board:
Agreed to continue holding its business meeting on the second Tuesday of each month beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the conference room in the Fayette Chamber of Commerce building at 65 W. Main St.
Scheduled its annual meeting for 7 p.m. March 11 at Meloni’s Restaurant on West Main Street.