Duquesne officials finalized an agreement with the Allegheny County Housing Authority that will serve as a green light for the Orchard Park development.
Orchard Park is a 44-unit housing complex that is being developed on the grounds of the former Burns Heights housing project by Ralph A. Falbo Inc. in partnership with the housing authority.
After months of zoning amendments and development approvals, council adopted an intergovernmental agreement with the housing authority that fits Orchard Park. The agreement was approved in a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Tim Petrisko dissenting.
“We spent a lot of time working on this contract,” Mayor Phil Krivacek told Petrisko. “We went to Pittsburgh to ... work very hard to satisfy you, and you vote no? I don't get that.”
City manager Frank Piccolino explained how the city, housing authority and developers have reworked the agreement to define the city's responsibilities and the housing authority's obligations pertaining to Orchard Park. It includes payments in lieu of taxes to cover the city's cost in serving the neighborhood and its residents, because the housing authority is tax exempt.
“The previous intergovernmental agreement was outdated,” Piccolino said. “It wasn't compatible with this development.”
While the revised intergovernmental agreement satisfied many of the city's concerns, Petrisko said he doesn't like how the plans have progressed.
“I sat in on negotiations with you,” Petrisko told fellow officials. “I agreed with a lot of that, but I didn't agree with the whole project.”
The Orchard Park development has sparked public conversations — sometimes heated — among city officials, project engineers and developers since February, when they ironed out issues that have surfaced since original plans for the land were discussed in 2006.
Falbo intended to develop the Burns Heights land with the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Hope VI program, intended to revitalize the worst public housing projects in the United States.
The city's previous intergovernmental agreement was written with the Hope VI project on the table.
When Hope VI funding was discontinued in 2010, Falbo and the housing authority sought new resources. Funds have been secured through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
In April, city council approved an ordinance that defines a “Traditional Neighborhood Overlay District” within a residentially zoned area — giving permission for large-scale, neighborhood-style developments such as Orchard Park to proceed without seeking individual variances for yard and setback requirements.
“(The housing authority) requested that to meet certain requirements for the housing development, which enabled them to move forward, with architecture and drawings,” Piccolino said.
Then in May, council approved the final site plan, which outlines 44 units including two single-family homes, 18 duplex buildings and two triplex buildings. Each building will be set back 15 feet from the curb, and there will be 15 feet between each neighborhood building. All dwelling units will be allotted two off-street parking spaces.
“This development is going to be a tremendous asset to the city,” Allegheny County Housing Authority senior project manager Ed Primm said. “It's going to provide new, affordable housing.”
Petrisko has been the voice for city residents who are concerned that Orchard Park will suffer the same fate as Burns Heights and become a dilapidated complex and breeding ground for crime.
The city and housing authority said they are taking steps to make sure that doesn't happen.
Mayor Phil Krivacek said the housing authority is committed to keeping Orchard Park clean with mixed-income families able to find affordable housing in a true neighborhood setting.
“We're going to do our part to clean up the area around that development,” Krivacek said, referencing a $50,000 grant that will cover a localized demolition project. “There are some homes — blighted, vacant and tax delinquent — around that property that need to come down.”
City officials said residents should be able to see positive signs of development in coming months.
“We're ready to go,” Piccolino said. “The only thing left is a developer's agreement and a financial securities agreement. We will sign that once a closing date is set.”
In the meantime, site preparation and coal removal is on target.
Nicholas Palumbo of KU Resources Inc., who was on-site Thursday, said, “The project is proceeding generally as planned.”
With approximately 30,000 tons of coal removed since July — in line with the projected 27,000-40,000 tons — the site will be excavated and graded by Thanksgiving.
Krivacek said construction is expected to begin late in the fall, and the development should be completed in 2015.
Jennifer R. Vertullo is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1956, or jvertullo@tribweb.com.
