The current Elm Street neighborhood consists of North Centre Street from Harrison Street to Peacock Street and then returns to Laurel Boulevard through Terry Reiley Way (formerly Coal Street). Efforts are currently underway seeking approval to extend the Elm Street neighborhood to encompass Nichols Street in its entirety.

Schuylkill Community Action is the implementing agency for the City of Pottsville Elm Street Program offered by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC).

Goal

The goal of the Elm Street Home Renovation Assistance Program is to help stabilize and enhance the Elm Street neighborhood by improving the current housing stock through housing renovation activities. Home renovation and repairs may include such activities as "accessibility" modifications; roof, window or door replacement; electrical upgrade; plumbing repairs; heating or hot water system replacement; kitchen or bathroom upgrades; insulation or other energy efficiency/conservation improvements; or other contracting activities to correct code deficiencies. Contracting activities will be considerate of historic preservation and promote the utilization of "green" technologies.

Program Benefits

The Elm Street Housing Renovation Assistance Program will:

• Provide up to $15,000 in the form of an interest-free, convertible (forgivable) loan for housing renovations and repairs
• Provide 100% of the costs related to Uniform Construction Code deficiencies and 50% of the costs for non-code related renovations
• Provide 100% of the cost of energy conservation improvements
• Provide 100% of the cost for "accessibility" modifications
• Remain interest free and payment free for ten (10) years at which time the loan converts to a grant and is forgiven providing the borrower remains in good standing for the entirety of the loan

Eligibility

In order to be eligible:

• The property must be a residential property located within the City of Pottsville's Elm Street district
• The property must consist of no more than four individual units
• The property must be the borrower's primary residence (in the case of multi-unit buildings up to 4 units, the borrower must reside in one of the units)
• The property owner must have all property taxes paid to date and must maintain current status
• The property must be insured with a home owners policy at all times
• Total household income cannot exceed 115% of the County Median Income at time of application as published by U.S. HUD

Project Requirements

• Construction must abide by the Uniform Construction Code as well as any applicable local building codes and regulations
• Participant must reside in the property through the duration of the recapture period (10 years) or face repayment as defined below
• The loan is one hundred percent (100%) repayable if the property is sold, or its use changes, within the first five years
• Funding is provided in the form of a conditional loan and will be forgiven starting in the sixth year at a rate of twenty percent (20%) per year for the remaining five years (years 6 through 10)
• The loan will automatically convert to a grant which is forgiven after ten years providing the borrower remains in good standing for the entirety of the loan
• All appliances purchased must be "Energy Star" rated

Goal

The goal of the Elm Street Down Payment Assistance Program is to encourage individuals or families to purchase a home in Pottsville's Elm Street neighborhood.

Program Benefits

The Elm Street Down Payment Assistance Program will:

• Provide 20% of the purchase price (up to a maximum of $10,000) in the form of a "down payment" assistance grant
• Provide an interest-free and payment-free period of ownership
• Require repayment upon the transfer of ownership or a change in use

Eligibility

In order to be eligible:

• The property must be a residential property located within the City of Pottsville's Elm Street district
• The property must be utilized as the purchaser's primary residence (multi-unit building may have up to four residential units as long as one of the units is the purchaser's primary residence)
• The applicant must successfully complete the Homebuyer Education course as instructed by Schuylkill Community Action
• The total household income cannot exceed 115% of the County Median Income as published by U.S. HUD

Project Requirements

• A "soft" second mortgage to be executed at time settlement and recorded with the Schuylkill County Recorder of Deeds Office
• 100% of the loan is due in full upon transfer of ownership or change in use of the property receiving assistance (i.e. the property is no longer the purchaser's primary residence)

Participation in the Down Payment Assistance Program does not preclude the homebuyer from participating in the Home Renovation Program.

No one person, household, or property can receive more than $20,000 of combined assistance under the Elm Street Programs

Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the PA Downtown Center's "Gateway Signage" Program. The elimination of neighborhood blight is a contributing factor in increasing property values in a neighborhood and also gives residents a better sense of safety, according to studies by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development and the PA Downtown Center. The City of Pottsville and SCA are taking further steps to eliminate blight in the Elm Street Neighborhood. Meanwhile, a tree planting project was recently undertaken in the Elm Street Neighborhood.

Pictured here are various of stages of Pottsville's Northern Gateway Project.