EASTON, Pa. — More than a month after a raging fire devastated the 900 block of Ferry Street, officials are moving forward with plans to accommodate former owners, even if the cause of the blaze remains a mystery.
Easton Fire Department Chief Henry Hennings recently said the investigation into the fire that took out numerous homes on May 29 is coming close to a conclusion, though heavy damage may mean the exact cause may never be known.
- The investigation into the Ferry Street fire in Easton on May 29 is coming to a close, though no certain cause has been discovered
- Easton's Redevelopment Authority continues to champion their plan to purchase the properties from homeowners, with an intent to convert the units into affordable housing
- Allentown recently gifted $20,000 to Third Street Alliance in order to provide assistance to victims of the blaze
Hennings said that is not unusual, as the intensity of the fire and its quick spread dealt massive damage to the properties — none of which were up to modern codes — leaving little evidence for the investigation.
“Basically, with a fire like that, you're basing a lot of your investigation around putting together different stories – what people see, what we experienced when we showed up, what callers experienced, things like that, and then trying to find any evidence that's remaining."Easton Fire Department Fire Chief Henry Hennings
“Basically, with a fire like that, you're basing a lot of your investigation around putting together different stories – what people see, what we experienced when we showed up, what callers experienced, things like that, and then trying to find any evidence that's remaining,” Hennings said.
Hennings said he believed the origin of the blaze was situated in or near the rear of 913 Ferry St., and that the adjoining properties on either side are likely unsalvageable.
“Building construction definitely plays a factor, the weather conditions at the time played a huge factor because of prevailing winds out of the east and low relative humidity; it all has a big factor in not only ignition, but spread as well,” Hennings said.
Easton Redevelopment Authority buyout plan
Meanwhile, City Hall is still working on a program through the Easton Redevelopment Authority exploring owners’ interests in selling their properties to the city. The city would then develop a plan to build new housing.
Redevelopment authority Director John Kingsley noted the agency had sent out emails and letters to property owners informing them of the plan for the agency to purchase their land, and a few had reached out to him so far.
Kingsley said he remains concerned about third-party offers to property owners, who could potentially lowball the victims, though he maintains the RDA program is simply an option, not a requirement.
“I'm really trying to distance myself from any concern of that type," Kingsley said. "I don't want the property owners to feel in any way pressured by our inquiry.
"And I want them to feel completely open to discuss with me whatever they feel comfortable discussing, and they certainly can have a conversation about what they think the appropriate value of their property is.”
According to Kingsley, the letters have attracted some interest from the owners, but nothing is certain at the moment.
“We are getting some interest, but it's not as though they're all saying ‘Yes, we want to sell to you.’ They're coming in saying ‘We're weighing different options.’ And clearly a couple of the property owners have been approached and whatever those offers, they're considering those offers,” Kingsley said.
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. confirmed if the redevelopment authority program proves successful and at least some owners decide to sell their properties, city council will be the agency to approve the purchases with American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“The council members, at least the ones I've talked to, are very interested in seeing the city do a project there that deals with affordable housing,” Panto said. “We would love to get all of them. But, I think right now, three people have responded that they will be interested in selling to the city.”
Panto said there is still an interest in turning the properties into affordable housing if the redevelopment authority program works well, with Kingsley agreeing and stating it could happen if and when the RDA is able to obtain at least a few of the structures.
Connecting with the victims
Easton Councilwoman Taiba Sultana, who was on Ferry Street helping collect donations the day after the blaze, said while she appreciates the assistance offered by nonprofits in the area, she finds it concerning the city itself is taking so long to help the victims.
“It's a very devastating situation, but the Ferry Street blaze basically opened up a whole Pandora's box of lack of affordable housing in the city of Easton,” Sultana said. “It's just so embarrassing that a handful of families have been displaced, and the city of Easton is not able to house them. And we are literally relying on nonprofit organizations like Third Street Alliance and Project of Easton, etc.”
On Friday afternoon, Sultana said she was meeting with some of those victims in order to help them as they navigate their way toward a new home.
Sultana said she was firmly against allowing developers to purchase the properties and build even more excessively expensive apartment complexes, and while she does doubt that will happen, she is prepared to rally council to vote against it.
“So it does not look like we are going to hand those houses to the rich developers who can turn them into high-end apartments. I'm not in favor of those apartments,” Sultana said.
According to Sultana, replacing the damaged properties with affordable housing would not only directly benefit those who struggle to afford a place to live, but also to help invigorate the local community.
“We are planning to turn those houses into affordable housing, because affordable housing is important at this moment,” Sultana said. “When families spend less on housing, they have more to spend on goods and services, which help the economic world.”
Allentown sending $20K to Easton fire victims
In Allentown, officials broke procedure in order to gift an Easton nonprofit with funding to help out the former homeowners and tenants of Ferry Street’s 900 block.
The Third Street Alliance for Women and Children in Easton is set to get a $20,000 grant from Allentown to help victims of the May 29 fire.
That will support the Easton organization’s rapid-rehousing and homeless-prevention services, according to a measure unanimously approved June 28 by Allentown City Council.
Council suspended its rules to introduce and approve the measure at the same meeting. Proposals usually require 14 days between introduction and passage.
Allentown is “simply the pass-through agency” for the funding, which is coming from state sources, according to Vicky Kistler, Allentown's director of community and economic development.
State officials would have had to set up a new account to send the money to the Third Street Alliance, delaying help for victims of the “devastating” fire, Kistler said.
Sending the money through Allentown’s account with the Easton nonprofit likely shortened the process “by several months,” Allentown City Council President Daryl Hendricks said.
“I commend my colleagues on this and the city for stepping up to the plate,” Hendricks said after council approved the measure.
