|
|
City of Emporia West Atlantic Street Neighborhood Revitalization Project
Overview
The West Atlantic Street Neighborhood is located in northwestern Emporia in close proximity to the Interstate-95 and U.S. Route 58 Business intersection, considered two of the most heavily traveled highways in Southeast Virginia. This street originally served as the principal western access into Emporia, however, with the construction of the Route 58 Bypass in 1992, the road's function change. Because of the new roadway patterns, the neighborhood became isolated and experienced a decline in homeownership, its physical condition, and unique character. The City's recently adopted Comprehensive Plan ranked the West Atlantic Street Neighborhood the area of the City most in need of new housing and housing rehabilitation. The criteria used in the assessment included poor interior and exterior housing conditions, residents on a limited income who cannot afford to make repairs, modest working class homes, and inadequate original construction.
Approach
A comprehensive community development project was developed and funded by CDBG funds in conjunction with private and local investment and the cooperation of several nonprofit organization. Improvements included housing rehabilitation of 27 single-family units; acquisition and clearance of 11 units and relocation of 11 households for the development of 4 affordable single-family units; acquisition of 4 vacant lots to be conveyed and developed for a Neighborhood Park; demolition of 7 dilapidated structures including 11 units; infrastructure improvements included the introduction of curb and gutter and sidewalk, replacement of sanitary sewer lines, replacement of a storm drainage headwall, and repaving for all neighborhood streets.
|
