Lancaster City Council approves $7.4M for affordable housing

In Lancaster, nine organizations will create 85 affordable housing units and preserve 443 more through renovation, thanks to a $7.4 million American Rescue Plan Act allocation approved Nov. 22 by Lancaster City Council.

“This historic investment in affordable housing is exactly what our city needs,” Mayor Danene Sorace said in a release. “While Lancaster has seen so much progress, our path forward must include a comprehensive strategy around creating and maintaining affordable housing. Today, we are taking a big step closer to meeting the need and that is worth celebrating.”

The projects funded include:

· Chestnut Housing Corp., $550,000 for construction of eight units, and restoration and remodeling of 607-609 Rockland Ave. into affordable housing.

· Community Basics Inc., $500,000 for construction of nine units, and the building of transitional housing with supportive services at 759 Manor St. for homeless young adults and those aging out of foster care.

· Lancaster City Housing Authority, $1.05 million for rehabilitation of 270 units, and renovations including a roof replacement and new HVAC.

· Lancaster/Lebanon Habitat for Humanity, $450,000 to support seven new units, land development for owner-occupied housing at 913 Wheatland Ave. and property rehabilitation on Fremont, Poplar and St. Joseph streets.

· Partners with Purpose, $500,000 for rehabilitation of 97 units, and renovation of scattered site units.

· SACA Development Corp., $850,000 for rehabilitation of 30 units, and renovation of housing at the General Cigar Place property at 453 S. Lime St.

· SDL DEVCO LLC, $2 million for construction of 45 units, and incorporating 45 affordable units to the Stockyards project.

· Tenfold, $1 million for rehabilitation of 46 units, and renovation of the Transitional Living Center at 105 E. King St.

· YWCA Lancaster, $500,000 for construction of 16 units, and renovations to add transitional living units at YWCA’s North Lime Street headquarters.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer