Northampton County Council last night unanimously approved a $2 million grant to Lehigh Valley Habitat for Humanity for the purchase and development of over 11.5 acres in Forks Tp, located off of Kesslersville Road. The land will be used to build 65 homes for first-time home buyers.
The property is being sold for $2.3 million, and already has zoning and planning approval for medium density residential. The project is expected to provide affordable housing.
Executive Director Jess Elliott, daughter of former County Council member Diane Elliott, explained the process. A family must first be income qualified and provide employment verification. The prospective owner must have a credit score higher than 600 and commit to 250 hours of "sweat equity," i.e. volunteer work in building the home. The owner will typically get a 3 BR home with 1 1/2 baths, secured by a 30-year,m interest-free mortgage.
County officials indicate that the property must still be appraised. It had been previously zoned for a warehouse.
County Council also approved $250,000 in grants to assist seniors with home improvement projects like emergency roof repairs.
Finally, it approved a $300,000 grant to address food security in the Northampton Area.
The funds for these grants comes the American Rescue Plan Act.
17 comments:
WTF does any of this have to do with CoViD? We're so stupid. We deserve all the bad things that are happening in our crashing economy.
The funds for these grants comes the tax payors.
Yes, they do, and this is $ very well spent. It's actually pretty amazing that this deal opened up in Forks Tp. Habitat does an amazing job. I have covered a few of their home christenings, so I am pleased about this. On the other hand, I would much rather see the money spent on existing housing rehabs than on building new. When we build new homes, we destroy green space. That land could also be used for local farming. I believe Habitat should rethink and focus on building rehabs. But I would not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Aren't forks township taxes high for low income. I know people moving out due to taxes
"Aren't forks township taxes high for low income. I know people moving out due to taxes".
School taxes are high everywhere...unless these people you know are moving to TN, SC, NC, GA, FL etc...they aren't going to find lower school taxes. I would argue that the residents property taxes will be lower if you take into account that most affordable housing in that area is located in Easton.
Do the 1st.time ,zero interest client perspectives have to be “already Northampton County residents” , that already pay taxes in some venue here? It’s a nice idea but, build them without restrictions and you know what you will get ? This opportunity I believe ,should go to existing Northampton County,Pa. Those working parents that are kept out of home ownership because they don’t have the 20% down ,the rents will force them to move and move again otherwise .
I believe they are almost double from some local areas
Remember 2008? Anybody? Is thing on (tap, tap, tap)?
@12 I really like the idea.
With so many homeowners struggling with the rigors and responsibilities of home ownership, creating artificial means by which otherwise unprepared individuals (renter Bernie?) are invited to struggle is a bad idea. We certainly did learn this through the Clinton years until the 2008 collapse. Who has this bright idea that home ownership is some good solution? Banks. Banks always win. Home ownership is not always a good idea. Sometimes, it's a terrible idea.
Money better spent rehabbing existing housing. Buying homes is great but that is not a priority now. People cannot even rent much less buy decent shelter. How about a program to help people of more modest means rent a decent apartment without having to pay 1500 and up a month.
The leaders once again go for the very poor and the very RICH AND EVERYONE IN THE WMIDDLE PAYS FOP IT WIHT NO RELIEF.
Boy, that credit score not good. Alsos should not take that land and build houses. Roads nuts enough now in area. Keep in open space and redo existing housing stock. Did you see Forks is trying to figure out how to handle already crazy traffic on Sullivan Trail with planned new businesses? They are considering a roundabout to handle expansion across from Big Woody's area. And you have that expansion going on around the Exxon station. Sullivan Trail will look like some of those strips you travel along older highways in New Jersey. I hear what you are saying about not making the perfect the enemy of the good but why settle for less when you can do it another way?
Habitat for Humanity is one of the most worthwhile nonprofits in the country, and it has done wonders herein the LV. They have given a helping hand to working people who desire to improve their situation. Their work does increase the supply of affordable homes. Part of its mission is rehabilitating existing housing stock in abandoned neighborhoods. I do believe that it should focus on that as opposed to using up green space, but like I said, I would not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. This tract is located within walking distance of a Weiss. The Tatamy trail is about a mile away. There are bis stops nearby. It will result in 65 beautiful homes. As for the credit score, this program does not exist for people who already have the means and credit to buy more expensive homes. It exists for working people. It will burden the school district, but less so than the same number of people living in apartments. The property had been zoned for a warehouse in an area that already has a lot of residential traffic, and I believe Rte 33 is at least two miles from this proposed development.
I think Habitat For Humanity houses are a joke. There are a bunch of HFH homes above
Lynn Field Terrace against the mountain in South Bethlehem. I when I drive by the area the houses look like shit houses car's parked everywhere all kinds of stuff piled outside make shift fences put up around the property. Personally I think it's an eye sore to the area
But that's just my 2 cents worth
Actually, I covered tow of the Habitat homes built in that area. No, it is not a gated community, but my takeaway is that the people who live there have pride in their homes. Yopu sound like a person who is deathly afraid of those trying to improve themselves bc it threatens you. I would rather see Habitat focused on abandoned neighborhoods than building anew, but find this infinitely preferable to strip malls and other garbage that could be there.
While I fully support the rehab of existing housing stock, new construction keeps lead-based paint out of the equation altogether. It’s pervasive in the kinds of existing homes that are commonly targeted for rehab, and abating it properly is costly and comes with potential liability. Families can be assured they’re getting a home that never contained lead, and Habitat can proceed with construction without the need to complete costly and challenging lead abatements.
I'd much rather see this be built instead of one more corporate-owned "luxury" apartment complex that is unaffordable to residents who work in the Lehigh Valley. That being said, if this is the site I am thinking of (the old driving range across from Braden Airpark), it is surrounded on two sides by modest but modern/well-kept housing developments whose residents are probably going to bitch about having to now live next to the poors.
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