Contact: Tom Hardy, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
(412) 874-7351
NEW CASTLE, PA. A partnership between DON Enterprises and 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania on Friday broke ground on two new accessible housing units in New Castle’s South Side. The homes will be built in the 1400 block of Hamilton Avenue and are the first new for-sale housing development in the neighborhood in decades. The sites were acquired from the Lawrence County Land Bank.
The two homes, being sold at prices between $45,000 and $50,000 already have buyers lined up and a waiting list exists for future homes that will be constructed. “We’ve had tremendous interest for all of the new housing that we’ve developed. This speaks to the demand for quality and affordable new housing within the City of New Castle. People recognize the good things that are happening and want to be a part of it”, said Court Hower of DON Enterprises.
The development received a competitive funding award through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing Program. First Commonwealth Bank is the sponsor for that funding award. The project is part of a larger Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) led by 10,000 Friends that focuses on addressing blight and improving the quality of life in the South Side. The NPP program is funded by contributions from UPMC Health Plan, First Commonwealth Bank, and First National Bank.
Stacie Reidenbaugh, President and CEO of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania remarked, “The project is a true partnership and reflects what can happen when the private sector and public sector get behind a community driven plan. These new homes are just one component of the overall plan and partnership to improve the quality of life for residents, business owners, and other community stakeholders.”
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About 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is the statewide nonpartisan advocate for responsible and efficient land use and partner for great places to live and work. We work with citizens, organizations, and public officials to create land use, infrastructure, development and governance policies and projects that strengthen our economy, protect our resources, save money, and build healthy, vibrant and resilient communities for all.
About DON
Don is a consumer controlled, non-profit organization in Western Pennsylvania, empowering people with disabilities to live as independently as they choose. DON is a grass roots advocacy organization concentrating on disability rights issues, as well as skills training, peer support, de-institutionalization and information and referral services. We strive to provide independence and empowerment at a systemic level as well as at an individual level, and frame the issues as civil rights for all people with disabilities.