In 2019, $100,000 was awarded to Valley Opportunity Council to rehabilitate two buildings of importance: one at 348 Chestnut Street/48-52 Franklin St. and one at 337 Chestnut Street.
$50,000 was awarded to fund the historic rehabilitation of the façade for 348 Chestnut Street/48-52 Franklin St which was constructed in 1911 and designed by architect George P.B. Alderman & Company. The work will include masonry repair, tuck pointing and cleaning.The five‐story, 14‐by‐22 bay Classical Revival, brick building has an L‐shaped footprint with decorative brickwork, brownstone lintel and sills and a corbelled brick cornice and features 28 apartments. The property will contribute to the significance of the Central Churchill Historic District that may be listed in the National Register of Historic Places if nominated by the State Historic Preservation Officer.
Another $50,000 will fund the housing preservation of 337 Chestnut Street, an affordable housing building, in the form of the building envelope. Work will be conducted on the exterior siding: replacement of the current EIFS system and windows to prevent water infiltration. 337 Chestnut Street is an apartment building of 2 and 3 stories in height with eight town homes/apartments. This project provides capital improvements to an existing rental property for the purpose of preserving an affordable housing building for families and seniors earning less than 60% AMI.
While a small part of the overall budget for the 13.9-million-dollar project, CPA funding allowed Valley Opportunity Council the ability to access state and federal funding through demonstrating local support for their project. In this way a small local contribution allows for an important project to come to fruition.
This project is expected to be completed in 2024.
