Housing and Community Investment Initiative to tackle blight

Housing and Community Investment Initiative to tackle blightSusan Payne, of Payne-Coverley Consulting team presents the Tioga County Housing and Community Investment Initiative. The Thursday meeting covered the topic of how to revitalize and create more opportunity within individual neighborhoods. (Photo by Jacob Elsbree)

It takes a village. Or at least that’s what Susan Payne and Elizabeth Coverley Consulting Team were trying to convey while presenting the Tioga County Housing and Community Investment Initiative to revitalize the housing and community of Tioga County. 

The initiative, in partnership with Tioga Opportunities, Tioga County Economic Development and Planning Department, and Tioga County Industrial Development Agency, started in 2017 with a study done in three distinct neighborhoods of Owego, Newark Valley and Waverly. The team closely analyzed what could be done to improve these neighborhoods in order to keep residents and attract potential homebuyers. 

One objective the team has is to embed an attitude that neighborhood revitalization is the core to success in a community, Payne said during the Thursday presentation. Meaning, by improving individual properties of whole neighborhoods, it ensures success to come for the community. 

The initiative plans to incentivize home revitalization with leveraging opportunities that are already available. 

Waverly Mayor Patrick Ayers along with Owego Mayor Mike Baratta said this is an opportunity for code enforcement. For example, if a home’s roof is not up to code, instead of being “bullies,” as they said, by knocking on the door and giving the homeowner a fine, they will work with them and utilize the initiative’s programs to solve the problem.

Housing and Community Investment Initiative to tackle blight
Susan Payne, of Payne-Coverley Consulting team presents the Tioga County Housing and Community Investment Initiative. The Thursday meeting covered the topic of how to revitalize and create more opportunity within individual neighborhoods. (Photo by Jacob Elsbree)

From there it is a ripple effect. They hope, as Payne said, that this work will “Convince adjacent property owners and create a creative alliance to raise the value of the neighborhoods.” 

But the initiative requires a whole-house approach, Payne explained, meaning that the revitalization requires more than a fresh coat of paint — maybe new windows are required, or a front porch needs to be redone with the staircase secured. With this approach, one home’s improvements may spark other homeowners to take similar action with their properties.

The areas of Owego, Waverly and Newark valley were chosen not only where there was blight, but also where a “modest investment” can make a dramatic impact.

The consulting team’s final presentation of what needs to be done in order for their goal to be actualized will take place in the near future, while the initiative will be getting to work. 

Payne and Coverley ended their presentation with recommendations for the partners and stakeholders to consider moving forward in their plans. These include establishing clear communication with homeowners and community members, highlighting code enforcement, highlighting public and private interest, and more.   

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