$64,000 PLEDGED TO ALLEVIATE BLIGHT IN FRANKLIN STREET CORRIDOR
JOHNSTOWN, PA – The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority announced this week that it has received a donation from an anonymous citizen to aid in blight elimination in the City of Johnstown. The $64,000 donation was made to the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies specifically for use by the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority to fight blight. The donor, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the success stories that the Authority has had over the past year inspired him to donate this large sum of money toward the elimination of blight within the City. Specifically, the purchase of an excavator that the Authority will use with City for in-house blight elimination inspired the very generous donation.
Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Melissa Komar said “We are thrilled by the generosity of this citizen. It goes to show that one person can make a difference and that every citizen who cares can make an impact. This was certainly unexpected, rare, and beyond gracious.”
The Redevelopment Authority intends to use this donation toward blight elimination on Franklin Street to coincide with the Franklin Street Corridor project that is underway at that City gateway.
$300,000 PLEDGED TO ALLEVIATE BLIGHT IN WEST END
12 STRUCTURES TO BE REMOVED ON FAIRFIELD AVENUE & STRAYER STREET
JOHNSTOWN, PA – Today the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority (JRA), Cambria County Redevelopment Authority, and City of Johnstown announced a major effort to alleviate blight in the West End neighborhood along Fairfield Avenue and Strayer Street, a major gateway into the City of Johnstown.
The project is funded through a collaboration between donors to Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (CFA) and 1889 Foundation. Funding began with a private donation of $75,000 to CFA for blight removal. CFA matched the individual contribution, and 1889 Foundation matched the resulting $150,000 to create a total of $300,000 to fight blight. The funding will enable the JRA to remove 12 derelict, unoccupied structures, of which five are residential and seven are commercial, along this roughly two-mile corridor.
“This stretch of road is important to the residents of the West End, but it also is a very visible gateway to the entire City,” CFA President and Executive Director Mike Kane said. “This collaboration is a perfect example of how donors’ intent can be multiplied—in this case fourfold—to revitalize our communities and make the greatest possible impact.”
“Blight is a major problem in our area – and blight has a significant impact on quality of life, and the health and wellness of our community,” noted Susan Mann, president of 1889 Foundation. “This cooperative funding effort with the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies will set the stage for revitalization of this section of the West End, which is an important corridor into our city from Route 22.”
The process began with a meeting on June 6 for the area’s property and business owners. Letters were also sent to inform them of this initiative.
“After the blight is reduced in this key gateway, our next phase will be to create green spaces, side lots, and parks for all to enjoy. Including the residents in this process is paramount. This is their neighborhood and thanks to very generous donations, we are now on the path to create the neighborhood that they desire and deserve. Our community flourishes in so many ways. We are a proud City that has always been defined by rebirth and resiliency and this effort will certainly signify a rebirth of this neighborhood” stated Melissa Komar, executive director of the JRA.
The 12 blighted structures will be ranked and placed on a timeline based on health and public safety issues, with help from the Johnstown Fire Department and the City of Johnstown Codes Enforcement officers. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. Part of the work will be completed by City of Johnstown employees using JRA equipment, and some of the demolition will be put out for bid from outside contractors.
The JRA envisions future redevelopment of these properties into urban green spaces, raised bed gardens, recreation areas, and side lot projects for neighboring property owners. The area is also zoned for commercial redevelopment, and there are currently parcels available for a larger-scale commercial build in the future. The project partners anticipate that the blight removal will be a catalyst for not only site redevelopment, but also other types of improvements to the neighborhood.
The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority exists and operates for two public purposes; the elimination of blighted areas for residential, recreational, commercial, or industrial reuse, and to provide a suitable living environment as well as adequate employment opportunities for the citizens of Johnstown. The mission of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority is to undertake urban renewal and the continued revitalization of the City of Johnstown, using unified public and private partnerships while engaging citizens in a community vision for growth.
1889 Foundation, Inc. formerly known as Conemaugh Health Foundation, was the recipient of funds from Conemaugh Health System’s sale to Duke LifePoint Healthcare in September 2014. 1889 Foundation is dedicated to partnering within our community to identify where we can make the greatest difference in areas such as population health and disease management. The Foundation’s mission is to support innovative programs and initiatives that improve and transform the overall health and wellness of our region. For more about 1889 Foundation, visit www.1889foundation.org.
Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is a public, nonprofit foundation that manages funds to strengthen communities in Bedford, Cambria, Indiana, and Somerset counties. CFA empowers individuals to become philanthropists, donors to make meaningful change, and caring citizens to design a legacy. For information about creating a fund or contributing to one of the 700+ funds the Foundation manages, visit www.cfalleghenies.org.
