City of Farrell Breaks Ground for New Houses

FARRELL, Pa. – Donna Pyles, owner of DC Construction Services, says she feels “humbled” to return to her hometown with a mission.

Pyles, a native of Farrell, owns a renovation and construction company based in North Carolina. On Friday, she was in town to break ground for a project that she says is close to her heart.

“It’s an emotional day,” Pyles said. “It means that my community trusts me to take on such a big endeavor and to make a difference.”

DC Construction is the lead contractor to build two new houses through a private/public partnership involving the city, First National Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. On Friday, the city broke ground on the seventh of a total eight houses as part of a program launched in 2015.

The new house will be a single-floor ranch that measures 1,384 square feet. It will be built at 420 Fruit Ave, next to two newer homes constructed during the program’s second phase.

“I’m hopeful that we’re going to rebuild the community with new houses,” Pyles said. “I’m also hoping it will bring in new businesses.”

The project was made possible through two grants from the Affordable Housing Program, said Ben Prescott, city manager. The program allows qualified homebuyers the opportunity to purchase a newly constructed house in the city valued in excess of $200,000 for approximately $75,000.

“The total project was eight houses,” Prescott says. “We completed Phase I a few years ago, and this is the completion of Phase II.”

The city expects to finish the final two houses and close out the project’s second phase within a year. Once the homes are finished, it allows the city to pursue future grants slated for additional housing developments.

All six of the homes completed under the program are owner occupied, according to Prescott.

“The intent and vision is to continue this kind of partnership with government entities and local banks and continue to build houses to stabilize our neighborhoods,” he said.

The last completed house was appraised at $215,000. Under the program, the local lender provides the buyer a conventional mortgage of approximately $75,000 to $95,000, depending on the client’s qualifications. “The balance of the house is built via the FHL partnership with the Home Loan Bank out of Pittsburgh,” he said.

Mayor Kimberly Doss said that the effort gives lower income people in the community the opportunity to achieve home ownership. “It also gives us more tax dollars back, it builds up our tax base. It’s important to the city and important to these families.”

Pictured at top: Donna Pyles, owner of DC Construction Services in North Carolina, comes home to Farrell to build new houses.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.