Negley Corridor - City of Pittsburgh

(URA Programs, cont.)
HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN PROGRAM (HILP)
Low-Interest Home Improvement Loans can be in any amount up to $25,000 and can be used for
any home improvement or repair. The qualifying amount will be based on the work needed on the
home, the amount of the homeowner's income, and other financial obligations. The Negley
Corridor neighborhoods of East Liberty, Friendship, and Garfield are in a target area, so there are no
income limits. Since no equity is needed to qualify, one can apply even if he or she just purchased a
home. The home can have 1-4 units; however, the homeowner must occupy the home in order to
be eligible for this program. This program could be used to address the issue of porches that have
been removed from the facades of many Negley Avenue homes.
PITTSBURGH HOME REHABILITATION PROGRAM (PHRP)
The PHRP offers the lowest interest rate available for home improvements, starting with the necessary
repairs. This program is focused on single-family or two-unit homes and is available only to
low-income homeowners.
For more information, contact the URA’s Housing Office at 255-6566 or visit their website at
www.ura.org/housing.htm
The URA is located at 200 Ross Street, 10th Floor in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Homeowners may also wish to take advantage of the Renovation Information Network, a community
resource for home renovation consultation. Call the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh at
391-4333 for more information.
Code Enforcement
Another immediate and ongoing task is to embark on a code
enforcement effort, particularly to target the negligent absentee landlords
on the corridor. First, acquisition should be the strategy to deal with the
most troublesome property owners. Those who have long histories of
non-compliance are unlikely to come around; the community should
focus on purchasing properties from such owners.
Next, a code compliance effort should be initiated for the majority of
problem properties. This will involve prioritizing the properties of
concern, putting pressure on public agencies to enforce the codes,
keeping track of the progress of the code enforcement effort, testifying
at housing court, etc. It is also highly recommended that the
community work in earnest to develop positive relationships with code
enforcement agencies and to become educated about the often-frustrating
legal processes involved in cleaning up problem properties.
Community activists will find that learning about the process will help
them to have productive interactions with code enforcement agencies.
Also, the CBOs and CDCs involved in the effort should focus on
developing relationships with property owners. This course is more
likely to lead to improved property conditions over the long term;
collaboration, rather than conflict, should be pursued as a matter
of course. Extreme confrontational tactics will be needed as well,
but should be used as a last resort because a lasting agreement with
commitment from each party is unlikely to arise from confrontation
alone.
20 Development Strategey and Action Agenda