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5/24/2008 3:32 AM

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By Barbara S. Miller

Staff writer

bmiller@observer-reporter.com

Armed with a $500,000 grant of state taxpayers' money, the Washington County Redevelopment Authority is ready to forge ahead with a townhouse development in Claysville.

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Although past projects have targeted low-income seniors, the first phase of the 19-home townhouse development will have a higher income threshold, and the final nine units will be sold without income restrictions.

The Department of Community and Economic Development formally notified the redevelopment authority this week that it would receive the half-million dollars though the Redevelopment Assistance Core Communities Housing Program.

Jim Hott, housing director, said he expects the DCED grant to cover the cost of extending School Street and water and sewer lines.

The redevelopment authority first sought bids from contractors in late summer 2006. "It came in over budget," Hott said, primarily because of the high cost of infrastructure.

The units will be sold for approximately $150,000. Those qualifying for the purchase of units in the first phase will be families with incomes at or below 115 percent of the median income in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the index, the maximum income for a family of four to qualify for a Claysville townhome would be $69,000.

"We've had people asking about them," said Bill McGowen, executive director of the redevelopment authority.

Steve Wiencek, assistant executive director, said this threshold is a little higher than usual. "Most of ours are 80 percent of median,' Wiencek said.

Six townhouses will be three-bedroom units and four will be two-bedroom units. All will have one-car garages and brick and vinyl-sided exteriors.

Construction is expected to begin in July and be completed in spring 2009. Once the initial 10 units are sold, the authority plans to build nine more units in 2010. They will be sold to persons or families without any income restrictions.

In 2005, the authority purchased a tract for $20,000 from John A. and Sally Senay Brogley and entered into an option to buy a second tract from the borough, once used as a baseball field, which combined measure a little more than three acres at the end of School Street. The purchase from the borough was for $30,000.

The townhouses will be the redevelopment authority's second project in the borough. It constructed a 24-unit apartment building for the elderly along Main Street, Route 40, at the site of the former Claysville Hotel.

Anyone who would like more information on the townhouses can call Hott at the redevelopment authority at 724-228-6875.

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