MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
Fair Housing Notice
NOTICE OF FIRST
PUBLIC HEARING
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
at
10:00 AM
in the Assembly Room of the
Millcreek
Township
municipal building
FY
2010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK PROGRAM
Millcreek
Township
anticipates receiving approximately $250,000 in Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in
Fiscal Year 2010. The Township is entitled to the grant monies under the
provisions of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as
amended.
The range of activities which
may be undertaken with CDBG monies include but are not limited to such things as
housing rehabilitation; homeownership assistance; road reconstruction; water,
sanitary sewer and storm sewer construction, and handicapped accessibility
improvements. The activities are to primarily benefit low-to-moderate income
families.
In accordance with the Final
Rule for revised program regulations, 24 CFR, Parts 91, et.al., and the
Millcreek Township Citizen Participation Plan, the Township will conduct a
public hearing to obtain input on how the funds might be utilized. The public
hearing is scheduled for
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
at
10:00 AM
in the Assembly Room of the
Millcreek
Township
municipal building located at
3608 West 26th Street
,
Erie
PA
16506
.
Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the
hearing. Those unable to attend but who would like to comment may do so by
contacting the Erie County Department of Planning by telephone at
(814) 451-6016 (TDD: 451-6237) between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through
Friday or by writing to the following address: Erie County Department of
Planning, Erie County Court House,
140 West 6th
Street
,
Erie
,
PA
16501
.
Millcreek
Township
Supervisors
Millcreek Township annually receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds are to be used to undertake housing and community development projects which primarily benefit low-to-moderate income families. The Township’s CDBG program is administered by the Erie County Department of Planning.
For FY 2009 the Township will receive $242,176. It also stands to receive additional CDBG monies in the amount of $65,721 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These “ARRA” funds will be added to the FY 2008 program year.
It is proposed that the FY 2009 CDBG funds and “ARRA” monies be used for the following projects:
1. Applicant: Erie Center on Health and Aging, Inc.
Project: Regional Senior Center Operations Project (Year 4)
CDBG Funds: $25,000
Financial assistance will be provided to the Erie Center on Health and Aging Inc. to help pay for one (1) year of operating costs of the Regional Senior Center. Costs to be offset with the CDBG monies include salaries and benefits. The Center is located at 406 Peach Street in the City of Erie and provides a wide array of services and programs for the elderly of Erie County including Millcreek Township. According to HUD, the elderly are a clientele who are “generally presumed to be principally low-to-moderate income persons”. Funding of this activity will address Community Development Need #6 –Senior Needs/ Concerns, as identified in the Township’s Five Year Strategic Plan.
ECDP Note: The Township has provided the Center CDBG funds in three previous fiscal years: FY2005-
$37,100 / FY 2006- $38,172/ and FY 2007- $37,780.
2. Applicant: Erie County Housing Authority
Project: Rental Housing Rehabilitation Project (Round 3)
CDBG Funds: $37,500
Financial assistance will be provided to landlords to make repairs and improvements to their rental structures where at least 51% of the units are occupied or available for occupancy by low-to-moderate income (LMI) tenants. The units will be brought into compliance with Section 8 Housing Quality Standards (HQS). It is anticipated that at least 2 units will be rehabilitated. Funding of this activity will address Housing Need Priority #2 –Rehabilitation of Rental Units - as identified in the Township’s Five Year Strategic Plan.
ECDP Note: FY 2005 CDBG funds in the amount of $85,100 provided for the rehabilitation of seven (7) rental units. FY 2007 funds in the amount of $65,400 combined with residual ’06 funds monies totaling $7,564.28 provided for the rehabilitation of five (5) units.
3. Applicant: Erie County Housing Authority
Project: First Time Homebuyer/Housing Rehabilitation Project
CDBG Funds: $27,500
The project will help one (1) LMI family purchase a home in the Township. Homeownership assistance will include homeownership counseling as well as down-payment and closing cost assistance. After ownership is established, the house will be rehabilitated for compliance with HUD Section 8 Housing Quality Standards. Funding of this activity will address Housing Need Priority #4 –Homeowner Assistance to First time Home Buyers and Housing Need Priority #1 – Rehabilitation of Owner Units, as identified in the Township’s Five Year Strategic Plan.
4.Applicant: Millcreek Township (Engineering office)
Project: Penelec/Pastore Flood Detention Basin Project (Year 3 Funding)
CDBG Funds: $98,000
Construction of a flood detention basin in the vicinity of Zuck Road and West 38th Street. The FDB will reduce or eliminate downstream flooding along a tributary of the West Branch of Cascade Creek by reducing peak discharges to the stream and storm sewer system. Funding of this activity will address Community Development Need #2 –Flood Drain Improvements - as identified in the Township’s Five Year Strategic Plan.
The primary project beneficiaries are the residents located downstream of the FDB who experience flooding during heavy rains. The area is bounded by West Lake Road to the north; West 38th Street to the south; Marshall Drive to the west; and Pittsburgh Avenue to the east. The benefit area is located within portions of Census Tract 105, Block Groups 2 and 3; and Census Tract 107, Block Groups 1,2,3 and 4. Within the area there are approximately 1,027 persons, 461 or 44% of whom are LMI. (The minimum qualifying LMI % for the Township is 37.1%)
ECDP Note: A total of $334,089 in multi-year CDBG funds has previously been allocated for the project. ($114,100 -FY 2007 and $219,989 - FY 2008)
5. Applicant:Housing and Neighborhood Development Service (HANDS)
Project: Ridgebury Apartments Site Improvements Project
CDBG Funds: $28,000
CDBG funds in the amount of $28,000 will be used to complete site improvements for the proposed senior living complex known as Ridgebury Apartments located on a 2.9 acre parcel at 5125 West Ridge Road. Ridgebury Apartments will provide 45 newly constructed one-bedroom units for low-income elderly individuals age 62 and above. According to HUD, the elderly are a clientele who are “generally presumed to be principally low-to-moderate income persons”. Funding of this activity will address Community Development Need #6 –Senior Needs. Site improvements would include storm water facilities, parking areas, sidewalks and curbs. The overall project is anticipated to cost 6.1 million dollars. Funding of this activity will address Housing Need Priority #3 –Increased Affordable Housing - as identified in the Township’s Five Year Strategic Plan.
Housing And Neighborhood Development Service (HANDS) will be the sponsor, developer and property management agent for the Ridgebury development. Support services will be coordinated and provided by the Erie Center on Health & Aging.
6. Applicant: St. Martin Center, Inc.
Project: Fair Housing and Predatory Lending Education Project
CDBG Funds: $4,000 (to come out of Administration budget)
Funds will be provided to the St. Martin Center to undertake a multi-faceted educational program which addresses fair housing and predatory lending concerns. The project will address one of the potential fair housing impediments as identified in the “Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice” report of November, 2008.
7. Administration: Erie County Department of Planning
General management, oversight and coordination of the FY 2009 CDBG Program
CDBG Funds: $21,989
PROPOSED “ARRA” FUNDED PROJECT
1. Applicant: Erie County Housing Authority
Project: Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Project
CDBG Funds: $65,721
“ARRA” funds in the amount of $65,721 will provide for the rehabilitation of two (2) to three (3) substandard, single-family, owner-occupied housing units for compliance with HUD Section 8 Housing Quality Housing Standards. The assistance will be made available exclusively to families that meet HUD’s Section 8 income limits for low-to-moderate income households. Funding of the project will continue to address Housing Need Priority #1 – Rehabilitation of Owner Units – as identified in the Township’s Five Year Strategic Plan.
ECDP Note: To date the Township has provided approximately $800,000 in CDBG funds to rehabilitate thirty-eight (38) housing units.
For information regarding Millcreek Township’s CDBG Program please contact:
Joseph Berdis
CDBG Administrator
Erie County Department of Planning
Erie County Court House
140 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16501
Phone #: (814) 451-6016
Fax #: (814) 451-7000
Email: jberdis@eriecountygov.org
FAIR HOUSING
NOTICE (top)
This notice will serve to advise residents of
Millcreek Township that the following actions, if based on race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, familial status (families with children), or
handicap, are considered discriminatory.
q
Refusing to sell or rent to, deal or negotiate with any person.
q
Discriminating by advertising that housing is available only to persons
of a certain race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or
handicap.
q
Denying that housing is available for inspection, sale or rent when it
really is available.
q
Blockbusting for profit, persuading owners to sell or rent housing by
telling them that minority groups are moving into the neighborhood.
q
Denying or making different terms or conditions for home loans by
financial institutions.
q
Denying to anyone the use of, or participation in, any real estate
service, multiple-list service or other facilities related to the selling and
renting of housing.
Any resident who believes they have been
discriminated against under any of the above conditions may file a complaint
with:
Erie
County
Human Relations
Commission
1001 State Street,
Suite #322
Renaissance Centre
Erie
,
PA
16501
Phone: 814-451-7021
Fax: 814-451-7066