Kathy Mellott
kmellott@tribdem.com
EBENSBURG —
The Cambria County Redevelopment Authority is moving forward with construction of two new single-family homes while laying out plans for construction of a third.
The first two homes, to be built in the 300 block of South Street in Johnstown’s Kernville section, will be funded with a portion of a $3 million federal Housing and Urban Development grant while the third will utilize a portion of a $516,393 additional grant from the same funding source, authority executive director Larry Custer said Tuesday.
A portion of the additional grant money also will be used to cover cost overruns in the rehabilitation of the former Dale School into rental units.
The third home will be built on a vacant lot in the 700 block of Sherman Street, also in Kernville.
All will be prefab with three bedrooms, two baths and a full basement.
When completed, the homes will be available for purchase by those meeting low- to middle-income guidelines based on the number of people in the family
Those federal guidelines allow a single person making more than $45,000 annually to be eligible. The household limit tops out at $85,700 for a family of eight.
The family must have a reliable source of working income, pass a background check and have acceptable credit, Custer said.
All designs for the homes were done by CTC of Johnstown with a special emphasis on eliminating waste, Custer said.
They also are the first homes in the region to be certified as Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design, he said.
All appliances will be energy efficient, with gas hot water heaters and high ratings for insulation.
A number of other steps will also be taken to make the homes “green,” Custer said.
In addition, there will be no garages and the driveways will be gravel, to allow for storm water absorption.
Johnstown-area companies were the low bidders in the four separate contracts for each of the two South Street homes.
Companies awarded contracts for the home at 316 South St. are:
• General: S.R.&G. Construction Co. Inc., Johnstown: $158,300.
• Mechanical: Marc-Service Inc., Windber: $14,250
• Plumbing: Laurel Management Co., Johnstown: $17,568.
• Electrical: Blalock Electric Service Inc., Johnstown: $2,800
Contracts for the 318 South St. home were awarded as follows:
• General: Oppy Construction Inc., Johnstown: $154,460.
• Mechanical: Marc-Service Inc., Windber: $14,250.
• Plumbing: Laurel Management Co., Johnstown: $17,313.
• Electrical: Blalock Electric Services Inc.: $3,100.
The third home will go to bid later this year, Custer said.
“These homes will be for families with children. The kids go to school and it makes for a neighborhood,” he said.
The federally funded Neighborhood Stabilization Program is geared toward saving communities.
Several months ago, the authority learned it would receive $3 million in program funding, but the money had to be spent in and around Johns-town in an effort to shore up struggling neighborhoods.
This latest allocation was given to Cambria County because of the authority’s success in allocating the first round of funding and having shovel-ready plans to spend more.
The more than $500,000 is coming from other agencies statewide that did not meet tight deadlines in getting the funds allocated. Custer said.
People who may be interested in more information about the authority’s home ownership or other housing initiatives can reach Custer in Ebensburg at 472-6711.
