EASTON, Pa. — Fire devastated the 900 block of Ferry Street on Memorial Day.
Now the city has a plan to acquire 18 properties and convert the burned-out row into affordable housing.
The Easton Redevelopment Authority (RDA) on Wednesday night approved a resolution that will allow the government entity to acquire the properties through negotiation.
- The Easton Redevelopment Authority approved the resolution Wednesday night
- Officials say homeowners are welcome to work with the RDA, which will draw funding from ARPA to buy the homes, or sell to anyone else
- The RDA currently intends to revitalize the properties and convert them into affordable housing
The measure embodies the authority with the power to acquire the following properties: 902, 903, 907, 911, 913, 915, 917, 919, 921, 923, 923 ½, 925, 927, 929, 931, 933, 935, and 937 Ferry St.
The May 29 blaze dealt significant damage to the homes, displacing dozens of residents — some of whom are still struggling to recover after the catastrophe.
Executive Director John Kingsley said the authority's resolution will hopefully allow for a more streamlined approach when it comes to compensating former owners for the properties and cleaning up the damage.
“The intention is to utilize the Redevelopment Authority as a coordinating entity to acquire properties where the owners may be predisposed to sell their properties, given the consideration of the loss related to the fire. The intention is to coordinate the redevelopment of these properties so that we bring the best possible redevelopment and total redevelopment to the neighborhood and the community at large,” said Kingsley, who is also Easton's director of community and economic development.
“... The intention is to coordinate the redevelopment of these properties so that we bring the best possible redevelopment and total redevelopment to the neighborhood and the community at large."John Kingsley, executive director of Easton Redevelopment Authority
Officials have largely agreed that many, if not just about all, of the homes affected by fire on the block's north side will likely be demolished to make way for new construction.
Though the resolution was just approved, Kingsley indicated the land could possibly be used to construct affordable housing, which is in high demand throughout Easton and the Lehigh Valley as a whole.
He noted that mission is the “primary focus” of the RDA.
According to Kingsley, the city has about $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds that could be used to purchase the properties.
“It’s actually open-ended in terms of how it would be used to support affordable housing in the city — it could actually be used anywhere,” Kingsley said. “But this, obviously, is a situation where we recognize the need to act quickly and make sure, again, the project is done in a timely manner to support that community."
RDA stresses option, not an order, for fire victims
The RDA intends to send out communications alerting victims to the resolution, and opening a dialogue to discuss the homeowners’ options. Both Kingsley and RDA solicitor Daniel Cohen said the acquisitions will be offers, not orders.
“Simply stated, these are individual property owners. None of their rights are going to be affected by this resolution,” Cohen said.
“They have the right to sell to the authority, to me, to you, to anybody else. The authority and the city are not taking any steps to take the property from them involuntarily by eminent domain.
"To the contrary, this is strictly going to be a voluntary process on their part. If they want to sell, they could sell to whomever. It's that simple.”
Kingsley noted that prices for the properties are likely quite variable at the moment, depending upon the source of an offer, though he said he wishes for the RDA to be included in conversations with the property owners. He said it could benefit the city as a whole if those locations are built into affordable housing units.
Before making a decision, Kingsley said, owners should consider what their insurance payout could yield, and if they wish to rebuild or sell off their property. He said if they opt to work with the RDA, “our singular purpose here is to focus on providing something, a good end result for that neighborhood.”
The authority's mission, according to the city website, is to fuel Easton growth by removing blight, promoting safe and affordable housing, revitalizing commercial and industrial properties and improving neighborhoods.
Both Kingsley and Cohen advised any property owners who may have been approached by potential buyers to be cautious.
Said Cohen: “I think the best way to protect themselves is to get their own attorneys involved now, because now there are people approaching them, and they should have legal counsel so that they can refer any prospective buyers, to their attorneys, and proceed from there.”
No residents were injured in the blaze, which broke out in mid-afternoon on the holiday. The cause has not been established. More than 40 people were displaced.
