CCHRA Brochure 2005

8/22/2019 CCHRA Brochure 2005

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The Housing and RedevelopmentAuthorities of Cumberland County

Lending a Helping Hand since 1975

The Housing and RedevelopmentAuthorities of Cumberland County

Lending a Helping Hand since 1975


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The Housing and Redevelopment Authorities of the County of Cumberland were formed in1975 to expand affordable housing opportunities and to provide support to municipalities inundertaking community development projects.

Q: Are the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities part of HUD (the U.S. Departmentof Housing and Urban Development)?

A: No. The Authorities receive much of their funding from HUD, but are not an agency ofthe federal government.

Q: Are Housing and Redevelopment Authorities part of county government?

A: Yes and No. The Board of Directors of the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities areappointed by the County Commissioners, but the agency is not considered a countyagency and receives no general funds from Cumberland County. The Authorities haveadministered community development grants on behalf of the county over the years andappreciate the continuing support of the County Commissioners.

Q: I have heard that the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities also operate in PerryCounty. Why is that?

A: Perry County has no Housing or Redevelopment Authority. The Housing andRedevelopment Authorities of the County of Cumberland undertake housing and

community development programs in Perry County at the request of the Perry CountyCommissioners.

Q: How much money does the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities administer in atypical year?

A: Approximately $15 million. This includes the administration of grants such as theCommunity Development Block Grant and HOME programs, housing managementcontracts, and real estate development projects.

Q: Can I call the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities toll free from any where in thecounty?

A: Yes. From the Carlisle area call: 249-1315; from the Shippensburg area call: 532-8805;and from the West Shore call: 697-7703.

Q: How can I learn more about the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities?

A: See our website at www.cchra.com. The website has information on all our programs,houses currently for sale, and apartments for rent.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities


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CCHRA owns and manages 149 units of public hous-ing for low and moderate income families. Public fam-ily housing units are located in Carlisle Borough atnine locations. The original 100 units were completedin 1982-83, and 50 additional units were added atGrandview Court and Cherry Court in 1991. One ofthe units has since been converted to a communitybuilding for the Grandview Court After School

Program.

With recent changes to federal law, 40% of the apartments are made available to households with incomes

at or below 30% of the area median income. The balance of the units are targeted to households withincomes up to 80% of the area median incomeCCHRA gives preference to working families, personswith disabilities, victims of domestic violence andhouseholds transitioning from bridge housingFamilies that live in public housing pay 30% of theirmonthly income toward rent and utilities; they mayalso elect to pay a flat rent.

CCHRA operates a Family Self Sufficiency Program

which allows tenants to escrow a portion of their rentinto a savings account. When the family graduatesfrom the program, they agree to move out of publichousing. The funds in the savings account may beused by the household to further education, purchasemore reliable transportation or to purchase a newhome.

CCHRA recently completed a number of moderniza-tion improvements including new building facades andlandscaping. Its public housing program is consistently rated a high performer by the U.S

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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Housing Programs

North West St. Public Housing, facade improvement

The CyberSpace computer resource center


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Housing for Seniors

The Housing and Redevelopment Authorities ownand/or manage 359 units of housing for seniorsthroughout Cumberland County. Affordable seniorhousing developments are located in the Carlisle area,Enola, Mechanicsburg, Mt. Holly Springs, Newville,and South Middleton. CCHRA staff works closelywith Cumberland Senior Housing Associates, a non-profit housing corporation, to expand the supply ofaffordable housing for seniors. Nine new apartmentswill result from the Molly Pitcher conversion on SouthHanover Street in Carlisle, which will begin in 2006.

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Housing Programs

Molly Pitcher Hotel, South Hanover St., Carlisle

East Gate Apartments, South Middleton Twp.

Two West Penn, Carlisle

Enola Commons exterior (above) and community room (inset)


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Housing For Persons With Special Needs

The development of affordable housing for persons withmental health and developmental disabilities is a continuing initiative of the CCHRA. The staff works closelywith Cumberland/Perry Housing Initiatives, Inc., a nonprofit housing corporation, on supportive, independentliving options for persons with special needs.

Recent initiatives:

1. The construction of three group homes for UnitedCerebral Palsy (UCP), the result of a partnershipbetween CCHRA, Cumberland/Perry Housing

Initiatives, Inc., and UCP.2. Two facilities, The Real Deal in Carlisle, and

Focused on Living in Mechanicsburg, have beenbuilt to help disabled secondary school studentslearn necessary apartment living skills.

3. The construction of an emergency shelter inCarlisle, and permanent housing facilities inCarlisle and Mechanicsburg for persons who havebeen homeless.

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Housing Programs

The Real Deal, 723 Franklin Street, Carlisle

MecHarbour,803-805 Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg

UCP Group Home,801 Upland Street, Lower Allen Township


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Neighborhood Revitalization

From the beginning, the Authorities have focused onthe need for comprehensive neighborhood develop-ment programs. The Pitt Street Pride Program was thefirst of the Pride of Carlisle projects, and has beenexpanded to include North and West Street Pride.This award-winning project has reclaimed a neighbor-hood for its families and made the pride of home own-ership a reality. A neighborhood organization,comprised primarily of homeowners, meets on a regu-lar basis to discuss strategies for dealing with neigh-borhood issues and concerns.

First-time homebuyers in Shippensburg have benefited

from a recent comprehensive neighborhood strategyproject known as Toll Gate Hill. This initiativeinvolved the acquisition and rehabilitation of fivehouses located in the 400 block of East King Street inShippensburg, and was completed in cooperation withthe Shippensburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

A new project, also in Shippensburg , is Lutheran Hillwhich involves the acquisition and rehabilitation oten houses on Orange Street, at the foot of MemoriaLutheran Church.

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Community Development Programs

Toll Gate Hill, East King Street, Shippensburg

Pride of Carlisle Marker

West North Street, Carlisle

North Pitt Street, Carlisle


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Downtown Initiatives

CCHRA has played a major role in the revitalizationactivities in Carlisle and Shippensburg, includingadministering commercial facade programs, packagingloans for real estate development, developing taxabatement programs to encourage private investmentand facilitating planning efforts. In recent years thoseefforts have been expanded to include Mechanicsburgand Newville.

In late 1999 several properties on West High Street inCarlisle were severely damaged by fire. With the help oCCHRA, those buildings have been restored and rebuilto include three retail businesses, and six upscale, elegant apartments in the Centenary building on the cor-ner of North Pitt Street and West High Street.

Also in Carlisle the former Woolworth building hasbeen refurbished and redesigned as a downtown busi-ness center, known as Business Central, and a formerdress factory has been converted into an antiques cooperative, known as Bedford Antiques, with 100 dealers.

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Centenary Building before (inset) and after restoration (above).

Bedford Street Antiques, exterior (at left) and interior (above)


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Downtown Initiatives (Continued)

In Mechanicsburg, CCHRA assisted with therestoration of the former Eckels Drug Store at 36 EastMain Street into a gift shop and soda fountain.CCHRA has also been working with Main StreetMechanicsburg, a new nonprofit corporation, to putinto place the organization necessary for a successfuldowntown revitalization effort.

CCHRA has recently completed the Newville TownCenter Project which has included redevelopment ofkey properties at 2 West Big Spring Avenue and 9South High Street, streetscape improvements, andtrailhead improvements at the eastern terminus for theCumberland Valley Rails-To-Trails.

In Shippensburg Borough, CCHRA has provided aloan through the countys Community DevelopmentBlock Grant Program to assist a private developer inconstructing a 20,000 square foot mixed use(retail/office) building at the site of the formerGingerbread Man restaurant.

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Eckels Drug Store, West Main Street, Mechanicsburg

Old Drug Store, Newville,corner of Big Spring Avenue and South High Street

Light posts,clockwise from above:

Toll Gate Hill, Shippensburg;Newville; and Newville

Trailhead Facility for Rails-To-Trails, Newville


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Homeownership Initiatives

The Authorities continue to offer a number of programs to encourage homeownership. Down paymentand closing cost funds, through the countysAffordable Housing Trust Fund, are made available tofirst time homeowners. This program provides up to$3,000 to households with incomes not in excess of100% of the area median income.

A few years ago, the Authorities worked closely with anonprofit housing corporation to construct twelvenew houses in North Newton Township for first-timebuyers. Another option for families interested inhomeownership is the CCHRA Lease PurchaseProgram. Houses are acquired and rehabilitated bythe Authorities throughout the county. These houseare then leased to income-eligible households with anoption to purchase.

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Petersburg Commons, construction

North Newton Hills, Newville area, exterior (above)and interior (inset)


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One of the mainstays of CCHRA has been theHousing Voucher Program. This Program, funded by

the U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment, assists over 1,200 households inCumberland and Perry Counties. Households, includ-ing senior citizens, with incomes up to 50% of the areamedian income may qualify for this program. Programparticipants rent from private landlords and may liveanywhere in either county. A portion of the rent ispaid by CCHRA, while households pay approximately30% of their monthly income toward rent and utilities.

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Rental Assistance Program

Enola Commons, exterior

Enola Commons, interior (above and at right) andresident Minerva Beam in her apartment


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Property Beautification

Blighted Properties are few and far between inCumberland County. However, because spot blightcan pull down surrounding property values, CCHRAhas developed a program, in cooperation with theCounty, to address the problems created by vacantblighted properties. In many cases, these propertieare located in areas where the Authorities have activeprograms. The Blighted Property Reinvestment Boardallows CCHRA to acquire these properties only afterthe owner has been given the opportunity to make thecorrective repairs.

Housing Rehabilitation

Since its inception, CCHRA has administered owner-occupied housing rehabilitation programs. These programs are designed to upgrade major systems, such asroofs, furnaces, and electrical systems. One of thegoals of this program is to assist senior citizens onfixed incomes to accomplish major repairs.

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Property Beautification andHousing Rehabilitation

Property Beautification, North Pitt Street, Carlisle

Property Beautification, West North Street, Carlisle

Property Beautification, E. King St., Shippensburg


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Many Cumberland County communities have usedCommunity Development Block Grant funds for public

works-type projects that substantially improve the qual-ity of life of its residents. Park improvements, streetreconstruction, storm water improvements, accessibilityimprovements for persons with disabilities, street trees,as well as sidewalks and curbs, are examples of recentprojects. CCHRA administers these grant funds forCumberland County and the Borough of Carlisle, aswell as for three communities that receive CDBG fundsdirectly from the state. As of 2005, CumberlandCounty qualifies as an Urban county under HUD reg-ulations and receives substantially more CDBG funds.

Newville Streetscape

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Public Facility Improvements

Hope Station, Memorial Park, Carlisle

Memorial Park Improvements, Carlisle

Shippensburg Township Park


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2005 North Street Pride project (rehabilitation of 15 houses and construction of five newhouses for first time buyers) completed.

$1 million approved by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for rehabilitation of upperfloors of Business Central (former Woolworth building) into office space fortechnology tenants.

2004 Centenary project (restoration of fire damaged property in Downtown Carlisle)completed.

Three group homes completed in conjunction with Cumberland/Perry HousingInitiatives and United Cerebral Palsy.

2003 Rehabilitation of former Woolworth building in Carlisle into shops/offices completed.Funding approved for rehabilitation of former dress factory in Carlisle into 100 dealerantique cooperative.

2002 Rehabilitation of six unit single room occupancy building in Mechanicsburg areacompleted.

$750,000 in state funds approved for the conversion of a former factory building inCarlisle into a small business incubator (Murata Business Center).

2001 East Gate senior apartments (South Middleton) opens.

The CyberSpace computer resource center opens.

2000 Transportation enhancement grant (Newville and Shippensburg Township) approved Cumberland Valley Rails-To-Trails trailhead improvements.

Funding approved for Toll Gate Hill (Shippensburg) and North Street Pride (Carlisle).

1999 Brethren House Apartments (Mechanicsburg) completed.

Carlisle Comfort Suites Hotel (Carlisle) completed.

1998 Pitt Street Pride (Phase 1) completed.

North Newtown Hills homes completed.

1997 Mountain View Apartments (Newville) completed.

Pitt Street Pride project announced.

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Highlights of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities 19762005


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1996 American House Apartments (Mechanicsburg) completed.

Enola homeownership voucher program begins.

1995 Valley Ridge Apartments (Middlesex Township) completed.

Chestnut Commons Senior Housing (Mount Holly Springs) completed.

1994 HUD approves additional funds for public housing homeownership in Enola.

Drug elimination grant approved for CCHRA.

1993 PA Department of Community Affairs approves $175,000 for owner-occupied housing

rehabilitation in Lemoyne and $200,000 to initiate first-time homebuyer program inShippensburg.

CCHRA awarded $942,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment to expand public housing homeownership program into LemoyneBorough.

1992 Two West Penn completed.

CCHRA awarded Public Housing funds to construct 10 units of public housing forseniors in Mount Holly Springs.

1991 Ground broken on Two West Penn Senior Housing.

Grandview Court and Cherry Court completed.

CCHRA awarded $2.8 million grant to acquire and rehabilitate 30 houses under PublicHousing Homeownership Program in communities of Enola, Shippensburg, andMount Holly Springs.

1990 Ground broken on 50 units of Family Public Housing to be known as GrandviewCourt and Cherry Court.

PA Department of Community Affairs approves $120,000 for housing rehabilitation

program in Newville Borough.

1989 CCHRA receives $2.1 million funding approval to build 50 units of senior housing atTwo West Penn site in Carlisle.

PA Department of Community Affairs approves $120,000 for housing rehabilitationprogram in West Fairview Borough.


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1988 CCHRA begins housing rehabilitation program in Perry County.

PA Department of Community Affairs approves $200,000 for renter and owner-occupied housing rehabilitation in Mount Holly Springs Borough.

1987 CCHRA receives $3 million funding approval to construct 50 additional units of PublicHousing in Carlisle.

1986 Housing rehabilitation programs in Shippensburg Borough and Township begin.

1985 CCHRA receives invitation from U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment to participate in county-wide Voucher Rental Assistance Demonstration

Project.

1984 $150,000 approved by PA Department of Community Affairs for housingrehabilitation in Mount Holly Springs, Newville, and Newburg.

1983 $340,000 approved by PA Department of Community Affairs for CommercialRevitalization Program in Mechanicsburg.

1982 First Public Housing units open; ground broken on an additional 25 units in Carlisle.

Penn School is converted into senior citizen housing with a loan from Carlisle

Community Development Block Grant Program.

1981 Ground broken on first 75 units of Public Housing in Carlisle.

$1.5 million Community Development Block Grant for Carlisle approved.

1980 High Street (Carlisle) Improvement Project begins.

1979 $500,000 Fairground Avenue (Carlisle) Housing Rehabilitation Program begins.

1978 CCHRAs application for 100 units of Public Housing in Carlisle is approved by U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Hanover Street (Carlisle) Improvement Project begins.

1977 $150,000 Bedford Street (Carlisle) Housing Rehabilitation Program begins.

1976 CCHRA receives approval from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmentfor first 50 county-wide rental assistance certificates.


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The Cumberland County Redevelopment and Housing Authority Staff from left to right Front Row: Johnna Palm, Ruthann Stansfield, CarolynBair, Sandy Smith, Jo Smith, Dianna Gilbert, Chris Gulotta, Catherine Mowery, Dolly Ludwig, Lisa Lory, Fran Cook, Sherry Feeser, TeresaMercer, April Quinn, Terry Walker. Second Row: Connie Beaston, Sonya Browne, Kathy Swope, Colleen Christopher, Lisa Hair, Sharon CareyDianna Clouse, Peg Bower, Bette Newcomer, Judie Brantner, Karen Byers, Donna Maurice, Cathy Graver. Third Row: Sharon Kirby, PaMrkobrad, Clif Mercer, Karen Michael, Jeanne Gilbert, Joyce Gutshall, Bill Varner, Tom Fields, Teresa McKissack, Sue Wolf, Belinda HrestakJudy Smith. Back Row: Bob Johnson, Tom Monismith, Tim Bear, Clint Gilbert, Scott Branyan, George Bigler, Terry Hockley, John Bailey, EarArter, Kathleen Laser, Paul Bailey, Christopher Houston.

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Personnel

Christopher Gulotta, Executive Director The Board of Trustees from left to right, top row: Jimmie C. George, AnthonyLepore, Timothy Ebersole; bottom row: Louis R. Martin, Fred Hefelfinger.


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Housing and Redevelopment Authorities of Cumberland County:Memorable Moments Over the Years


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The Housing and Redevelopment Authorities of Cumberland County

114 North Hanover St

Carlisle, PA 17013

717-249-1315

717-697-7703

532-8805

717-249-4071 FAX

E-Mail: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.cchra.com

CCHRA Brochure 2005

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