MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown’s effort to revitalize a portion of its oldest neighborhood is getting a significant boost from Washington.
The city will receive a $2 million congressionally directed spending allocation, or earmark, to be used specifically in lower Greenmont.
According to Robyn Hess, the city’s grant coordinator, the funds will be used for land acquisition, blight removal and demolition, and possibly the construction of low-to-moderate income housing.
The goal, according to the city, is to develop an “updated entrance into the city through the Greenmont area, the oldest historic neighborhood in Morgantown.”
The area in question — from Brockway Avenue down to Deckers Creek — is already the focus of $600,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money being directed through the Morgantown Land Reuse and Preservation Agency
So far, the agency has been able to acquire six properties along Pennsylvania Avenue. Some of them have been empty lots; others have dilapidated structures identified by the neighborhood as magnets for unwanted activity.
Greenmont residents have said they would like to see that area include green space, a recreational connection to Deckers Creek and the trail system and maybe even a small park.
The city didn’t respond when asked if the $2 million would also be funneled through the LRPA, explaining, “This is still in the planning and development phase.”
Communications Director Brad Riffee said the city hopes to acquire the funds by early spring 2025.
Hess recently told Morgantown City Council she’s hopeful the congressionally directed funds can help leverage a Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant through the U.S. Department of Urban Development.
The city is seeking $7 million that could be used for everything from reviewing and updating city code and building regulations to blighted property acquisition, down payment assistance and homeowner rehabilitation projects among other housing-focused initiatives.
Hess said there is $100 million available this cycle and the grant process is very competitive. Every HUD entitlement community is able to apply, as are states, counties and metropolitan planning organizations.
“I think we’ve put a very competitive grant together,” she said, later adding, “If you get the grant, you’re just about assured of getting it for the next five years. So, that means if we get the grant, we have a possibility of putting $35 million into … making housing available in Morgantown for the entire population.”
Information on the grant awards is expected in March.
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