Date: August 29, 2007
Project: City of Bradford Master Plan
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Client: City of Bradford
Location: Bradford Housing Authority
MCF No.: 44506002

Attendees:

Valerie Mark, Bradford Housing Authority
Tracy Chamberlin, Bradford Housing Authority
Roberta Sarraf, Zoning Consultant
Albert Filoni, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Kenneth Lee, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Amy Maceyko, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.

Purpose: To learn about the Bradford Housing Authority – who it serves and how it operates.

1. After an introduction from Mr. Filoni about the process that is being undertaken to develop a master plan for the Bradford area, the team asked many questions to learn more about what the Bradford Housing Authority (BHA) does and how it relates to the rest of the city.
2. The BHA runs and maintains three properties in the city of Bradford. The first is the high rise on Bushnell Street, the second is South Center, which is on the other side of the creek from the high rise, and the third is Brookline Court, which is located near the Community Center. The high rise has 128 units that are efficiencies and 1 bedrooms. South Center has 50 units and Brookline Court has 22 units. The row houses at South Center have one to five bedrooms, and they are full with a small waiting list.
3. The BHA used to operate the Kiwanis housing and Emery Towers, but they don’t anymore. They think that Crossgate might manage those locations now. Ms. Mark and Ms. Chamberlin don’t have an opinion on the Kiwanis housing (positive or negative).
4. Ms. Mark has been at BHA for 28 years and she filled the team in on how things have changed during her tenure. When she started, residents had to be 62 years or older to live in BHA housing. But then Emery Towers opened and the BHA waiting list dried up, so the age limit was lowered. After that, HUD began requiring that anyone 18 years or older be allowed to apply. She would estimate that about 45% of their current residents are between the ages of 18 and 40. Also, there are no families in the high rise. Most of the residents are single, but there are some couples. They are currently adding some accessible units.
5. The rents vary and are based on occupant’s income. Rents in BHA housing vary from $50 to $800. If a resident is making $12,000, they are probably paying about $220/month plus deductions for children, elderly or medical reasons. The BHA pays all utilities and there is no food service in the buildings. Also, the BHA has nine employees.
6. The majority of the BHA residents seem to be from the Bradford Area. Some stay for a matter of months and others have lived in their facilities for 30-40 years. Based on their records, about 50% of their residents are on SSI and the rest are employed. They are now both allowed to and required to screen applicants. Fifteen years ago, they had to let anyone in whom applied.
7. There is other McKean County Public Housing, and none of that is allowed to be inside the City limits. There is some in Foster, Kane, Lewis Run, etc. There are 112 Section-8 vouchers in the city limits as well. It is the responsibility of BHA to inspect those apartments prior to occupancy. They don’t think that landlords discriminate against Section-8 users, but it can be difficult to find units in decent condition.
8. They know that there are occupants who attend programs and get opportunities through the assistance office. Also, they know that residents use the ATA buses to get around town. They also use Access vans to go to Erie, Smethport, Kane and doctor’s appointments in Pittsburgh.
9. The residents of the BHA housing have brought complaints to them in the past about Friendship Table. 2 of their residents do volunteer there and others use their services, but they have also heard complaints about the program not serving everyone and not taking all volunteers.
10. Both Ms. Mark and Ms. Chamberlin live in the city. They site unsightly houses, potholes and a lack of activities and stores downtown as big problems in Bradford. Although they think that city services are pretty good and that neighbors do a good job of pulling together like they did the previous week to clean up from a storm.
11. Ms. Mark goes downtown for groceries (Tops) and to have her nails done. She either brings her lunch or goes to Beefeaters, Pizza Hut or the hot dog shop.
12. They mentioned Angel’s, a place that burned several years ago that used to be a place where kids could go. It would be nice to have a place like Angel’s or the old roller rink back again. There is the skateboard park, organized sports and Y activities, but the area needs more ‘free’ or less expensive activities for kids.
13. Ms. Mark and Ms. Chamberlin have favorable views of the school system, but a negative view of the emergency services available at the hospital. The two of them have gone to the University for training and have a positive view of UPB as an asset for the city.
14. Both ladies commented that they travel to New York State to shop. (Erie, Buffalo, Jamestown, Olean) The dress shops in town are closed when they aren’t working and there is not sufficient selection or variety at Walmart. Ms. Chamberlin commented that she goes to the movie theater in Bradford and she knows that some of their residents do, too.
15. When the topic of blight came up, they commented specifically on the run down homes in East Bradford. They said that they don’t feel unsafe in town or in Veteran’s square, but that they wouldn’t consider spending time sitting in the square either. Based on their observation, the people who hang out in Veteran’s square are not primarily BHA residents. From their perspective, the residents that they deal with are not causing the problems in town that they are being blamed for (vandalism, loitering, etc).
16. When it comes to parking, Ms. Mark and Ms. Chamberlin stated that the worst time is Friday night at 6pm. It can be hard to find a parking space around Main Street at that point. Mr. Filoni mentioned that the planning team has suggested that the city gets rid of the parking meters, and he was told that Smethport doesn’t have parking meters.

With no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned. The foregoing constitutes the major items accepted by the attendees. If there are any corrections or clarifications, please notify the architects.

Respectfully submitted,

MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.

Amy P. Maceyko, AIA, LEED AP