255 North Third Work Updates

Work is back on track in 255.  Here's IMPACT! Missions latest call for volunteers.  They are looking for workers this week on Tuesday and Thursday from 9-3, and this coming Saturday, Nov 1!

Hi Columbia team,

 

We can have greenshirts available Tuesday and Thursday this week form 9-3.  Please respond to this e-mail when/if you can work on either Tuesday or Thursday.  This coming Saturday will be a big work day.  We will have a lift in front of the property and we will be starting the front work with painting, and porch work.  This will be an important first step for this project since the work will be very visible to the neighborhood.  Please come out and help us start the Columbia third street improvement project.

 

It is important for IMPACT! Missions to have feedback on everybody's availability so we can plan for both resources and material delivery.

 

Again, if these dates are not working for the group as a whole, please provide feedback to days and times.

 

We are very excited to start working with you.

 

 Thank you,

 

Matthew Beakes
Executive Director - IMPACT! Missions
Address: 118 West Willow Road
Willow Street,  PA, 17584
Phone: (717) 823-7962
e-mail: mabeakes@impactcamps.org
http://www.impactcamps.org

If you can help, please email Matt with your availability as requested in his message.

September & October Updates

We haven’t been able to post any updates for a while, but that doesn’t mean things haven’t been happening!

The Columbia HSC met on October 8^th and heard updates about three different branches of the project.

North Third Street at Sunrise

First, the 3P Working Group talked about the progress they have made putting together a façade improvement program for North Third Street.  The 3P (Porches, Plantings, Paint) Group includes six residents from North Third and LHOP representatives.  The idea is to have LHOP money available in the form of low interest loans.  The loans can be used to repair and restore the facades of the houses along North Third. 

The HSC spent a long time discussing the nuts and bolts of the program and the best balance between loan rates, payback periods, and size of the loans.  We want to make sure the loans are useful to people, but also that money cycles back into the program within a reasonable period of time.  As loan payments are made to LHOP, the funds can be sent back into the community as more loans.   The 3P Working Group is taking this feedback and getting a final draft ready for the November HSC meeting.  A smaller group is also looking at how to create a pre-qualified contractors list.

Second,  it was shared with the group that Colonial Metals will be redoing the facades of the three houses it owns in the 500 block.  A long term goal of the group was also discussed.  The plan is to seek out grant funding in 2015 to do major streetscape improvements along North Third Street.  The project would be based on some of the initial suggestions worked up by Doug Phillips.  Also, a survey team from Millersville University will be in the 500 block soon, filling out the forms that were done earlier for the 200, 300, and 400 blocks.

Lastly, 255 North Third Street is gutted and nearly ready for interior work to begin.  A regular work schedule will be set up for Mondays, Thursdays, and every other Saturday.  Once exact times are known, the information will be posted on Facebook.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to help out, please let us know on Facebook or by sending an email to ColaHSC@gmail.com!