Agenda 02/13/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Cherry Street Neighborhood Improvement Project City of Martinsville, Virginia Project Summary The City of Martinsville's Cherry Street Neighborhood has been identified as a priority community development project. Most of the existing housing stock is dilapidated creating concentrations of blight throughout the neighborhood, and there is a need for infrastructure improvements along all of the streets in the neighborhood. The residents of Cherry Street are unanimous in their support of this project and would benefit substantially from this project. All of the residents are oflow-to-moderate income and cannot afford to make these improvements with their own resources.. Many of them have actively participated in the formulation of the project, attending many of the project meetings, and provided assistance with the project organization. The City received a Planning Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, which has been used to identify the needs of the neighborhood and structure a plan to respond to those needs. The City has hired K. W. Poore & Associates, Inc. to provide management assistance with the planning grant. This firn1 has provided management assistance and consulting services on several other community development projects in the City including the Academy Place and West Church Street projects. A Community Improvement Grant application is in preparation and will be submitted to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on March 21 st, 2007. The Cherry Street Neighborhood Improvement Project consists of three general improvement activities: housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, and infill affordable housing production. The Community Improvement Grant funds will be used to pay for the housing rehabilitation and affordable housing production aspects of the project. The City will provide in-kind services and the money for all infrastructure improvements in the neighborhood. The Cherry Street Neighborhood consists of 43 housing units (26 owner-occupied and 10 renter-occupied). The remaining 7 units are vacant or abandoned. Housing rehabilitation improvements will consist of the rehabilitation of 14 housing units, the substantial reconstruction of 13 units, and the acquisition and clearance of 10 units. Four of the remaining housing units are structurally sound and do not need rehabilitation. The remaining two units are seasonally vacant; consequently, they will not be included as part of the project. Infrastructure improvements include the construction of a "T" shaped turnaround at the eastern end of Jordan Street, which will improve traffic circulation. Waterline improvements and two new fire hydrants will be installed along Jordan Street, Geter Street and Cherry Street Extension. New curb and gutter will be placed along Cherry Street, Jordan Street, Boden Street and Geter Street. Cherry Street will have a 5' sidewalk installed to improve pedestrian flow. Cherry Street Extension will be widened