Crystal Surdyk, Jamestown development director, speaks to Housing Committee members about the city’s successful application to be a state-designated Pro-Housing Community. P-J photo by John Whittaker

Jamestown has been approved by the state as a Pro-Housing Community – a designation that could bring additional grant money to the city to help deal with housing issues.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order 30 creating the Pro-Housing Community Program in July 2023. Municipalities that are awarded the “Pro-Housing Communities” designation will receive priority in their applications for state grants, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the NY Forward program, the Regional Council Capital Fund, capital projects from the Market New York program, the New York Main Street program and the Public Transportation Modernization Enhancement Program. The city was notified in late March that it has been accepted into the program.

“I would like to say thank you to the City Council for supporting our efforts,” said Crystal Surdyk, city development director. “We were notified that we have been granted Pro-Housing Community status. What that does for us is it makes the city of Jamestown a priority when it comes to us applying for future funding that will support pro-housing initiatives.”

There are literally dozens of ways money secured by Pro-Housing Communities can be used, though they fall into four broad categories: planning and policy activities that support affordable housing, development activities, infrastructure activities and preservation activities.

“There are a whole slew of things that are listed under each one of those activities,” Surdyk said during Monday’s City Council Housing Committee meeting. “So I want to thank you for that support. That gives us the opportunity that we need to be able to apply for a significant amount of funding. You can see award amounts will range from $1 million to $10 million, so there’s a significant amount of money out there. And this will prioritize us when it comes to the state reviewing our applications for the future.”

Surdyk also addressed junk and debris complaints that will soon begin pouring into the city Development Department. She said city residents should be sure to take care of their lawn and garden, keep their property cleaned up – including yards and porches, keep their BPU assigned garbage container behind their house, pick up after their pets and to be respectful and considerate of neighbors by adhering to the city’s noise ordinance, which limits noise from parties, music, equipment and machinery to between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. except for Friday and Saturday, when evening hours extend to 10 p.m.

“We are now coming into the summer months, so the things we get constant phone calls about and complaints about, which are relatively easy things for homeowners to make sure they’re taking care of,” Surdyk said.

Last year, City Council members passed a local law to address code violations in a more timely manner. It permits “quality of life ticketing” by city code enforcement officers to property owners who are non-compliant on junk and debris, high grass, snow accumulation or other maintenance issues.