ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Two families will be given an opportunity to “build generational wealth” through homeownership in Allentown’s Jordan Heights neighborhood.
Allentown Housing Authority on Tuesday threw open the doors to two homes it’s fully renovated after getting a $400,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
The authority held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 413 W. Allen St. to celebrate its return to the real estate market, alongside its neighbor at 415 W. Allen St.
“To know that the Housing Authority is going to be able to offer a home like this at $150,000 — or around that — to an income-qualified family is absolutely incredible."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
Both were renovated as part of the authority’s Homeownership Program, which will turn over five homes to first-time buyers.
The three-story homes on West Allen Street have five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and feature new kitchens, flooring, walls, electrical systems and more.
Several representatives of local elected officials called the homes “beautiful” at the ceremony and praised Allentown Housing Authority Executive Director Julio Guridy and his staff.
“It looks absolutely fantastic,” Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said, congratulating the agency for doing “a phenomenal job” with its renovations.
'Absolutely incredible'
Allentown and the Lehigh Valley are facing affordable housing crises, Tuerk said, noting the average price for a home in the United States is about $420,000.
“To know that the Housing Authority is going to be able to offer a home like this at $150,000 — or around that — to an income-qualified family is absolutely incredible,” Tuerk said.
Allentown Housing Authority’s Homeownership Program offers homes to buyers who are paid 80% or less of the area’s median income on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the agency.
“You see the Parking Authority in the news recently; to have two parking spots here, that’s going to make all the difference."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
A family of four who makes less than $72,500 a year would meet the home's income requirements, according to the state Department of Human Services.
Qualified buyers also must meet requirements set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The homes also have a yard and dedicated parking spaces, which Tuerk said was a “really important” feature for the families who move in.
“You see the Parking Authority in the news recently; to have two parking spots here, that’s going to make all the difference,” Tuerk said to a room of laughter.
'We want orderly growth'
Lou Day, Allentown Housing Authority’s director of maintenance operations, said the West Allen Street homes were built in the early 1900s and acquired by the AHA in the 1980s.
The agency did some renovations then, but recently seized the opportunity to fully renovate the homes after getting state funding, he said.
"We’re going to make this place a safe home for somebody, a solid, safe home. Somebody’s going to have an opportunity to have their first home, which is really, really cool."Lou Day, Day, Allentown Housing Authority’s director of maintenance operations
Contractors started renovating the homes about three months ago and “uncovered a few things that were interesting" and needed to be fixed, Day said.
Many developers might try to solve those problems cheaply, he said.
"That wasn't our attitude here," Day said. "We’re going to make this place a safe home for somebody, a solid, safe home."
"Somebody’s going to have an opportunity to have their first home, which is really, really cool," he said.
