County approves housing renovations

By RANDY BARTLEY
Staff writer
The Clarion County Board of Commissioners Dec. 10 approved the release of funds for the Clarion County Housing Authority.

The funding, from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be used by the housing authority to conduct various repair, rehabilitation and improvement activities at the Penn Court Apartments and the administrative office.

The Penn Court Apartments, located at 144 Penn Avenue in Clarion, encompass eight apartment buildings each with five single-family apartments.

There are 40 apartments in the complex.

Improvements at the apartments include the entry canopy replacements, flooring and carpeting replacement as needed including carpeting, vinyl plank and vinyl, re-point exterior brick, complete deck replacements, sidewalk and cement repair, bathroom upgrades, closet door replacement, installation of energy efficient lighting, breaker box replacement, architect and engineering costs and operations expenses.

The Clarion County Housing Authority Administrative Office, located at 8 West Main Street, Clarion is a one-story structure that contains 10 offices, a conference room, kitchen, two bathrooms, waiting room and workshop area. Improvements to the administrative office include upgrades to the bathroom, kitchen, flooring, painting, and electrical, lighting, asphalt, concrete and paving.

The renovations are part of the authority’s Five-year Action Plan covering the years 2018-2022 including capital fund grants for 2018-2019.