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Right At HOME

City Development Director Delivers Housing Report

The after photo of 122 Park St. after renovations were completed with funding assistance from the city of Jamestown that city officials received from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. P-J photo by Dennis Phillip

The city of Jamestown is continuing to help property owners with housing repairs even during the pandemic.

Crystal Surdyk, city development director, gave a report this week to the Jamestown City Council during its work session meeting about work being done by city officials to improve housing. Surdyk said two Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) projects are about to be completed. She said one project is at 117 Wescott St. that the city funded more than $35,000 toward improving. She added that work was done to replace 19 windows, replace new trim, doors and vinyl siding, roof replacement, improvements to deck and railing, vent fan in the bathroom, new electrical outlets in the kitchen and replace smoke and CO2 detectors.

The other HOME project was at 122 Park St., with the city assisting the property owner with $49,550 in funding. Surdyk said new vinyl house and garage siding was installed.

Also, improvements were made to the house and garage windows and doors. She also said there were porch and stair railing repairs done. Lead abatement was also completed at the property. She added that lead abatement is usually done during all HOME projects.

“It’s one of the first things they test for and, then again, one of the last things they do,” she said.

The before photo of 122 Park St. before renovations were made. Submitted photo

The HOME program provides grants to states and localities that communities use, often in partnership with local nonprofit groups or development companies. These communities and organizations then fund activities such as building, buying and rehabilitating affordable housing units for rent or homeownership. HOME is the largest federal block grant provided to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing.

Surdyk said there are currently 10 active HOME projects and 55 households on the waiting list, which dates back several years. Last month, the council approved the annual plan for how 2020 HOME funding will be used. City officials are planning to use $256,850 of the HOME funding toward owner-occupied property rehabilitation, with $51,370 going toward a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) in the area to assist the agency with its programs. The city’s two (CHDO) agencies are Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corp. and Citizens Opportunity for Development and Equality Inc.

Surdyk also discussed demolitions, with 16 projects in progress. She said some are having asbestos surveys done and others are in the process of asbestos abatement. She added that $100,000 was in the 2020 Community Development Block Grant funding for demolitions. Also, the city is working with the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corp. for funding assistance of demolitions.

“(The demolitions are) getting ready to be bid out for completion,” she said. “We have enough in the queue to keep us busy for awhile.”

Surdyk also presented some information on housing code cases. She said since Jan. 1, there are 28 new and 361 ongoing cases.

“That’s pretty typical for this time of the year,” she said. “Cases are usually around 400 to the 450 range.”

Since Jan. 1, 39 cases have been completed, Surdyk said. She said there have been 37 new inspections and 142 reinspections since the start of 2021.

Surdyk also discussed the creation of a Citizen Advisory Committee that will assist the city with housing issues. She said the by-laws for the committee are still being created and the rollout will probably be next month. She added there will be seven to nine people on the committee.

“It will be made up of citizens, landlords and tenants. Also involved will be people who participate in neighborhood watch groups and a code enforcement officer. We will also be working with the (Jamestown Police Department) to have their participation,” she said.

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