Latest news with #HousingRehabilitationProgram
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A new park, homeowner loans and other takeaways from Tosa's 'State of the City' address
Wauwatosa residents, business owners, developers, and nonprofit leaders filled Hart Park's Muellner Building on the evening of April 23 to hear the mayor and city staff deliver the first "State of the City" address. Under the historic building's newly revealed "barrel" wooden ceiling, leaders shared the latest on a new park, homeowner loans, city funding challenges and public health initiatives. Here are four takeaways from the evening. Wauwatosa's Public Works Department has had no shortage of projects over the last few years. The department completed the Muellner Building's renovation, oversees street construction, and has added solar paneling to many more city buildings, Public Works Director Dave Simpson told attendees. But perhaps the most anticipated project nearing completion is a new $4 million city park, the first ever on the city's west side. Firefly Grove Park, at North 116th Street and West Gilbert Avenue, will open Wednesday, May 28. It will include walking trails, a sledding hill, a playground, a pavilion and a sculpture garden. It'll also be the home to a giant troll by recycling artist Thomas Dambo, Wauwatosa Tourism Specialist Beth Gleesing told the audience. More information is coming soon on how volunteers can get involved in the building process, she said. A bike pump track, estimated to be completed in July, is another highly-anticipated amenity at the park. A pump track is a looped circuit path, often made out of asphalt or dirt, for cyclists, people on scooters and skateboarders to enjoy. The park was paid for without taxpayer dollars and completely through grants, including American Rescue Act funds. Mark Hammond, Wauwatosa's development director, talked about two city programs that provide financial incentives for eligible homeowners looking to improve their properties. The Housing Rehabilitation Program offers zero-interest loans for low- to moderate-income residents looking to improve things like accessibility, plumbing, electrical or windows in their home. Wauwatosa residents can contact 414-479-8933 or email HomeRepair@ to get in touch with a rehabilitation specialist. Another program offers a limited number of forgivable loans for homeowners who want to build Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. These are additional living spaces that act like a backyard apartment. ADUs can generate rental income for homeowners and add to the city's housing stock without drastically changing the look of a neighborhood, Hammond told the crowd. The loans are offered on a first come first served basis. For details on design requirements, residents should submit the ADU interest form online or contact the Wauwatosa's Planning Division at 414-479-3522 to setup a consultation. Hammond also described how the city is trying to strike a balance between developing needed affordable housing, investing in business corridors and building in a land-locked community. The city's plans at Mayfair Mall to bring new apartments and replace the former Boston store with Scheels Sporting Goods is an example of adding "density where it makes sense," he said. About 43% of adults over the age of 65 report feeling lonely, according to Wauwatosa Health Department Officer and Director Laura Stephens. That's why the department has focused many mental health efforts on social connection, particularly with an intergenerational approach. Tosa Tech Time is a Wauwatosa Health Department program that empowers young people to help seniors learn to use their cell phones and other technology. Through regular meetings, the program has helped seniors connect glucose monitors to their phone, log into their online medical accounts and message or call friends and family, Stephens said. Other health department programs focus on harm reduction, short-term rental checks, sexual health education, and reviews of reports of animal issues in the community. More information can be found online at the health department website. Additionally, a trained police officer and behavioral health clinician are now responding to crisis calls Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. When available, the Wauwatosa Crisis Assessment Response Team is dispatched by contacting 911 or the Wauwatosa non-emergency line at 414-471-8430 and asking for the CART responders. In closing, Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said that Wauwatosa is strong, but like other cities, it's had to tighten the belt on spending in recent budgets in the face of levy limits and low amounts of state aid that come through shared revenue. Roughly 2% of Wauwatosa's total revenue comes from state shared revenue, according to McBride. That leaves communities limited in ways to generate revenue, relying heavily on net-new construction, which can only go so far in municipalities like Wauwatosa which has little undeveloped land. Wauwatosa hasn't had to cut city services or staff yet like Brookfield may have to do after a taxpayer referendum failed, McBride said. But "the threat and possibility are always with us" as the city approaches a fiscal cliff, he told the crowd. McBride called on attendees at the State of the City address to reach out to their legislators in Madison to revise how the state structures municipal finances. "This is not a partisan issue," he said. McBride ended the evening asking residents to consider running for local office. The spring 2026 election on Tuesday, April 6 will include Wauwatosa aldermanic seats and a race for Wauwatosa municipal judge. Contact the reporter at bfogarty@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here are 4 takeaways from Wauwatosa's 'State of the City' address
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eagle's Nest Leadership athletic center nearing completion after years of work
A project years in the making on Erie's east side is now in the home stretch of development. An athletic center at Eagle's Nest Leadership Corporation along Pennsylvania Avenue is expected to open later this spring. New athletic center underway for Eagle's Nest Leadership Corp. An almost 10,000-square-foot athletic center that costs about $3.5 million to build is nearing completion. 'There's nothing here for the young people to have instructional-wise. We thought it was important and imperative to have transformational learning going on,' said Bishop Dwane Brock, CEO of Eagle's Nest Corporation. 'It's going to be an educational/recreational facility here that will outlast our lifetimes.' Retired teachers, coaches and staff will spend time with young men and women in the facility, instilling in them the values of teamwork as well as common dignity and respect for everyone. But it will also house sports opportunities of all kinds. The project was announced in 2019 and was helped early on by the City of Erie loans and investment as well as private fundraising. Lake Erie wind turbines discussion gains attention again Fast forward to today where the building itself is up and just about finished, all that's left is to complete cosmetic work, and eventually put in the pavement for a parking lot. Brock said construction has been moving nonstop this year, even throughout the winter when we received feet of snow. 'We're looking to have the actual ribbon cutting toward the last week in May and throughout the entirety of the winter the contractors have been working diligently. From the roof to the inside and whatnot, it's been a tremendous phenomenon as to what has gone on here,' he said. The first-class facility is located in the heart of one of erie's most historically disadvantaged neighborhoods along pennsylvania avenue and East 12th Street. Erie Co. awarded $400K grant for Housing Rehabilitation Program And it will serve as a model of what reinvestment can look like in urban neighborhoods. Interior finishing touches are expected to be completed within the next two months. 'Fixtures for the bathrooms, the actual floors going in, the big giant tubes for the climate control system, the steel doors and fire doors are already in, the roof is completed, windows are done, the bricks and steel are in place, scoreboards have been ordered, bleachers have been ordered. Again, it's the home stretch,' Bishop Brock went on to say. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lake Erie wind turbines discussion gains attention again
Wind turbines on Lake Erie have long been a hot-button issue and the issue has resurfaced. Legislation to lease submerged lands in Lake Erie for offshore energy generation has been proposed for years. Erie Co. awarded $400K grant for Housing Rehabilitation Program 'When Rep. Sonny retired, I picked it up. I think Erie is a natural place with our wind, with our wave action that there's potential there for jobs, potential to generate electricity,' said State Rep. Bob Merski. The bill again failed to pass last year. So this year, Representative Merski took a more conservative approach, proposing a feasibility study on the issue. 'We want to make sure we're not in the path of migratory birds. We want to make sure it doesn't disrupt shipping lanes. We want to make sure it doesn't disrupt the fishing industry,' Merski said. The S.O.N.S of Lake Erie has been a vocal opponent of wind turbines in the lake. New wind turbine legislation passed by PA Environmental and Renewable Energy committee 'It's our water supply, it's our beauty. It's the thing that makes Erie what's Erie,' said Jerry Skrypzak, president of the S.O.N.S of Lake Erie Skrypzak worries about earthquakes and exacerbating industrial pollution on the lake bottom. 'I'm afraid if we're gonna start disturbing the bottom of the lake, we're gonna stir all those contaminants up,' he explained. Penn Environment supports the legislation, its executive director said more renewable energy sources are needed. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'It's cleaner. It tackles climate change. More and more it's cheaper which is great for those of us who care about our electricity bill,' said David Masur, executive director of PennEnviornment. With artificial intelligence putting additional strain on the grid, Representative Merski said he will continue to have an 'all of the above' approach when it comes to energy. 'I don't think people understand the energy crisis this country is going to face,' Merski went on to say. Snap-tite Hose donates instruments to local veterans State Representative Bob Merski's resolution passed committee 19 to 7 and is headed to the House floor for a vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Erie Co. awarded $400K grant for Housing Rehabilitation Program
Erie County has announced that they have been awarded a home investment partnership grant to help owners improve their homes. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has allocated $400,000 to Erie County for its Housing Rehabilitation Program. St. Martin Center offering free budget, home buying classes This funding will support low and moderate-income homeowners by addressing necessary code deficiencies, health and safety improvements, lead-based paint remediation and more. The county is working in conjunction with the City of Erie and Corry's redevelopment authorities to administer this program. Rise like the phoenix — New transition house opens in Erie 'This new money will be used with our other existing programs that we have to really enhance county-wide housing rehabilitation. The county planning department in partnership with our redevelopment authorities, will be taking a county-wide housing plan to really look at the condition, quality and availability and affordability of housing county wide,' said Jessica Horan, director of planning in Erie County. If you would like more information or to apply, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
