Half dozen affordable residences coming to Latrobe's Mary Street

Greensburg-based Homes Build Hope is nearing completion of six new affordable residences in Latrobe that should be ready to rent early next year.

Guardian Construction of Export and several subcontractors are installing carpet and countertops and completing painting in the pair of two-story triplex structures on a formerly blighted section of Mary Street.

It’s the latest effort by the organization to replace substandard housing along one of Latrobe’s main arteries, Lloyd Avenue, and nearby side streets. It anticipates Latrobe’s effort to map blighted properties in the city that need addressed.

“We want to do anything we can to address blight and put more affordable housing in the community, so that people have a choice of living close to schools and their place of employment,” said Kristin Zaccaria, executive director of the nonprofit. “We probably have 24 units along Lloyd Avenue where we’ve removed the blight and built new units that we continue to own and operate.”

Homes Build Hope had planned to construct nine new dwellings along Mary Street. The project was scaled back as it failed to gain approval of tax-credit funding through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the cost of construction materials increased.

Each of the two multi-family dwellings contains one three-bedroom unit capable of accommodating up to a household of six and a pair of two-bedroom units for up to four occupants each. Those units are replacing five run-down homes.

Homes Build Hope may develop two other nearby properties if funding becomes available, Zaccaria said.

William Suppa, superintendent with Guardian Construction, said the units are equipped with a sprinkler system and with energy-efficient lighting, windows, furnaces and hot water tanks. The units come with angled parking spaces, kitchen appliances and hookups for a washer and dryer.

“We started to break ground in early June,” Suppa said, noting there were delays in obtaining some construction materials. “We‘ve been trying to work around that.”

The Mary Street project cost about $2 million, including $1.5 million for construction.

“It was a total collaborative effort,” said Zaccaria. She explained the Westmoreland County Land Bank obtained the properties, the Redevelopment Authority of Westmoreland County provided helped with demolishing the dilapidated houses and Pennsylvania’s HOME Investment Partnership Program provided funding — through the county planning office — to assist with construction.

While the front facades of the units aren’t visible from Lloyd Avenue, the rear facades can been seen from Legion Keener Park, directly across the Loyalhanna Creek. That’s why the units have rear porches and entrances that mimic the front entrances.

“It was very important to us that the backs of those homes that are facing the park have a nice curb appeal,” Zaccaria said. “It’s improving the community, even from across the creek.”

The Mary Street units will be targeted for those with household incomes of up to 50% of the county median — currently at $42,400 for a family of four.

Under current guidelines, which are subject to change, monthly rent would be at up to $855 for a two-bedroom unit, up to $995 for a three-bedroom unit.

For more information about Homes Build Hope, call 724-838-0752.