Published: October 12, 2009 11:35 pm      

Redevelopment authority will 2 renovate homes

EBENSBURG — By early 2010 a ramshackle house in East Conemaugh and one in need of a face-lift in Moxham should be renovated and for sale to low-income families.

The Cambria County Redevelopment Authority will spend $49,790 for extensive renovations to a single family dwelling at 144 Jackson St. in East Conemaugh and $25,925 to upgrade another at 188 Wheat St. in Moxham.

Both were purchased by the authority at a sheriff’s sale and will be upgraded using funds from the authority’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, said Larry Custer, authority executive director.

Low bidder for both projects is Doug Rogel’s Quality Building and Remodeling, 1222 Bedford St., Johnstown.

Work is to start by Nov. 1 and be completed in 75 days, Custer said.

Some authority members have expressed concern about the same contractor being awarded both contracts and being able to meet the 75-day window for completion.

Andrew Pcola, housing specialist with the authority, said the contractor will hire subcontractors to do some of the work.

“They will have people at both sites,” Pcola said.

The Wheat Street house is probably the cleanest property the authority has ever purchased in foreclosure, Custer said.

The renovation focus will be on replacement of the heating and electrical systems and a new roof.

Work will be more extensive at the Jackson Street property, where along with replacement of the heating, plumbing, electrical systems and roof, many of the interior walls need work, Custer said.

Funding for the projects is coming from the $3 million federally funded grant awarded to the authority in the summer.

Originally, the authority hoped to spend the money on housing needs countywide, but the state said it prefered a different approach and told county officials to focus on Johnstown and the surrounding boroughs of Franklin, Dale and East Conemaugh.

The communities are declining, and hopes are some housing rehabilitation will slow the decline.

While giving no specifics, Custer said his staff is looking at four properties expected to be up for sale at the Dec. 11 sheriff’s sale and have made offers on 12 properties in a private sale by the Cambria County Tax Claims office.

Custer said his office works at getting the properties back into private ownership, not always an easy job in light of today’s credit crunch.

“As soon as we have them sold, we turn them over,” he said.

The authority staff is working with city housing and redevelopment officials to complete the projects in the city.