Located 30 miles west of Philadelphia, Chester, Pennsylvania, is the oldest community in Delaware County and was formerly the county seat. The city is primarily a low- and moderate-income area. It has lost major employers during the past several decades, resulting in increased unemployment and an out-migration of residents.

Because Chester is part of the Delaware County Consortium for the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), the Delaware County Consortium Consolidated Plan contains the city's housing and homeless needs summary, its housing market analysis, and a description of strategies and priorities for the consortium. Chester's plan includes only the Non-housing Community Development Plan and One-Year Action Plan.

Action Plan

In Fiscal Year 1995, the city anticipates receiving $2.1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, $80,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds, and $400,000 in program income. Two-thirds of Chester's CDBG funds are dedicated to Non-housing community development objectives. Emphasis is on infrastructure improvements, economic development, and public safety, with allocations being reserved for a number of agencies that provide needed services.

Citizen Participation

As a first step in preparing its 21st program year application for CDBG funds, Chester held a public hearing on February 22, 1995.

Community Development Needs

In preparing the Non-housing community development plan, the staff of the Chester Redevelopment Authority conducted a detailed analysis of the demographics within the city to identify specific needs and to determine CDBG-eligible activities. The city has divided its community development needs into seven categories:

• Public facility needs. Chester has approximately 50 parks and recreation facilities, including 267 acres devoted to outdoor recreation. Residents have indicated that the maintenance of these facilities is less than adequate. Some areas have broken or missing equipment. There are no public swimming pools, skating rinks, or bowling lanes. The city has only one public library, although its services could be improved by increasing space and hours.
• Infrastructure improvement needs. Because of deteriorated storm sewer inlets and recurring problems during heavy rainfall, Chester has identified a need to improve the storm sewer system throughout the community. Rights-of-way must be upgraded, and sidewalks throughout the city need to be repaired or replaced. Parking needs should be evaluated. The city must also lobby the State to repair roadways to improve Chester's transportation system.
• Public service needs. There is a need to expand services related to crime prevention, literacy and education, employment training, domestic violence, the elderly, recreation, health, and fair housing.
• Accessibility. The city has allocated funds for sidewalk curb cuts that will accommodate wheelchairs.
• Economic development needs. Between 1982 and 1991, Chester lost 2,000 manufacturing jobs, mostly because of the closing of Pennsylvania Shipbuilding. Between 1982 and 1987, the number of retail establishments in the city decreased by 31 percent, resulting in the loss of 102 jobs. The city's central business district was especially hard hit. In 1991 Chester's unemployment rate was 7.5 percent, but city officials believe that many residents have given up hope of finding a job and are either no longer looking or not counted in the unemployment rate. To attract and retain businesses, the city must form a partnership with local financial institutions, promote major highway improvements in and around the city, and develop incentives and a process that promote business in the community.
• Planning. Continued planning studies to address specific community concerns are needed. The city has used previous CDBG funds to study and plan revitalization efforts.
• Other community development needs. The city has identified a need to remove unsafe and abandoned structures that create hazards to the health, safety, and welfare of local residents. The removal of these structures also would help to prevent blight. Continued vigilance of code enforcement will help to eliminate health and safety hazards in the city's housing stock.

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

High priorities for Non-housing community development in Chester include:

• Neighborhood facilities.
• Parks and/or recreational facilities.
• Flood drain improvements.
• Street improvements.
• Sidewalk improvements.
• Water improvements.
• Sewer improvements.
• Services for the elderly.
• Youth services.
• Employment training.
• Crime awareness.
• Child-care services.
• Health services.
• Microbusinesses.
• Lead-based paint hazards.

Housing and Community Development Resources

To meet the housing and community development needs described in this plan, Chester will use $2.5 million in CDBG funds and $80,000 in ESG funds. Other resources include the Delaware County Office of Mental Health Homeless Program, which provides resident beds for homeless persons with mental illness and offers a continuum of care in housing support services and outreach. The city also uses programs of the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs.

Chester encourages private developers and nonprofit groups to develop affordable housing. Funding sources such as the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program are available to supplement other resources. The United Way of Southeast Delaware County raises funds to support emergency shelters, rent and mortgage payment assistance, utility payment assistance, meals, supplies, and equipment.

Description of Key Projects

Two-thirds of Chester's CDBG funds are dedicated to meeting Non-housing community development objectives. Use of the city's CDBG funds will emphasize infrastructure improvements, economic development, and public safety, with allocations being reserved for a number of agencies that provide employment training and services to the elderly, children, and youth. All ESG funds will be used to rehabilitate an existing facility for emergency shelter. Among 22 projects that will be enacted during the first year of the 5- year plan are the following:

• Demolition of vacant, open, and abandoned structures that present a health and safety hazard to neighborhood residents ($386,000 in CDBG funds).
• Construction or reconstruction of sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streets, and sewers in low- and moderate-income areas ($220,000 in CDBG funds).
• Acquisition of a building that will serve as an incubator site for small business development ($200,000 in CDBG funds).
• Loans to businesses, including microbusinesses ($500,000 in CDBG funds). This project is expected to fund 20 businesses.
• Loans to a maximum of $20,000 per unit for property owners who rehabilitate property for low- to moderate-income families or for resale ($242,900 in CDBG funds). This project is expected to assist 15 households.
• Rehabilitation of vacant dwelling units at the Community Center for emergency shelter and related uses ($80,000 in CDBG funds and $80,000 in ESG funds). This project is expected to assist 25 people.
• Case management, job readiness, and vocational training services for youth ($52,050 in CDBG funds).
• Case management and legal services for victims of domestic violence ($40,000 in CDBG funds).
• Homebuyer counseling program ($10,000 in CDBG funds).
• Increased police patrols in low- and moderate-income areas ($41,000 in CDBG funds).

Maps

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.

MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.

MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 6 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.

MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.

MAP 9 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).

Mr. Monir Ahmed
City Compliance Monitor
610-447-7705