16851_Authority_Aug_2023

!"#$%$&'('")*+,$)$-./+,0 112111 !! The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority exists and operates for two public purposes: the elimination of blighted areas for residential, rec - reational, 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 (JRA) is to undertake urban renewal and the continued revitaliza - tion of the City of Johnstown, using unified public and private partner - ships while engaging citizens in a community vision for growth. Blight is an issue throughout Cambria and Somerset counties. The majority of blight in Johnstown was created by a decrease in population from 70,000 to 20,000 residents, though the homes for 70,000 still exist. Many of the property owners are deceased or have moved out of state and do not respond to communication from the City or the Authority. This leads to a multi-step process to allow for mass demolition as opposed to spot demolition, which does not have as much impact. Issues created from blight include crime, arson, repetitive maintenance for public works - board- ing of windows and doors and cutting grass, eyesores for adjacent property owners, and difficultly for developers or potential business owners when they are traveling throughout the City scouting locations. An intergovernmental agreement is in place between the City and JRA for demolition along the sanitary sewer interceptor projects. With this, the City oversees the administrative portion while the Authority funds the projects. Additionally, JRA purchased heavy equipment to provide in-house demolition. With the background and expertise of the Johnstown Rede- velopment Authority and the City of Johnstown, we are willing to work with our neighboring municipalities to help with the demolition pro- cess based on past experiences. We partner in state projects to eliminate blight where there is a more posi- tive potential use for the property/ vacant land. Once the blight is elimi - nated, these areas can be developed into urban green spaces, raised bed gardens, recreation areas, and side lot projects for neighboring property owners. $250,000 is allocated each year from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) toward demoli - tion. Five years ago, there were 1,400 blighted properties in Johnstown. Nearly 800 have been demolished to date. The City and Authority have worked diligently to overcome this issue. Additionally, the Authority has received funds from DCED, EPA, and our local foundations to assist on this especially important initiative. The City and Authority have also created a blight task force. The task force is made up of residents, busi - ness and civic leaders, City staff and elected officials, and representatives from City and County agencies and stakeholder groups. Data was exam - ined based on the nature and extent of blight in Johnstown. We reviewed a range of blight tools and strategies and reached consensus on blight strat- egies to prioritize for implementation. The Comprehensive Blight Strategy Plan developed from the work of the Blight Task Force recommended five top priority strategies. Johnstown Redevelopment Authority By Melissa Komar, Executive Director, Johnstown Redevelopment & Regional Sewage Authorities Pennsylvania state Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr., Richland Township, 35 th District, and John- stown Redevelopment Authority Executive Di- rector Melissa Komar discuss Commonwealth funding being used for demolition of blighted buildings in Johnstown at the site of a razing in the Old Conemaugh Borough neighborhood on Thursday, January 20, 2022. Photo by Dave Sutor, The Tribune-Democrat. Johnstown Redevelopment & Regional Sewage Authorities’ Office Before After Continued on page 63.