Housing Development Runs Ahead of Schedule
By Julie Benamati, Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
Aug. 1–NANTY GLO — Now that Nanty Glo Borough engineers don’t need a stormwater control permit for the new Burns Street Development, they have found themselves about two months ahead of schedule.
Borough officials expect that by this time next year, the five residential building lots planned at Burns Street will show signs of construction.
Engineers from Stiffler, McGraw & Associates of Hollidaysburg told council recently that the 2.5-acre development is moving along quickly.
“We don’t need a stormwater control permit because the size of the development is smaller than the requirement from the state Department of Environmental Protection,” said Steve McGraw, the borough’s engineer.
McGraw’s firm is in charge of laying out the development, including roads, stormwater management, erosion control and installation of water and sewer lines.
Random polls among residents, part of the borough’s comprehensive plan, showed a need for more residential housing. Borough Manager Sam Sulkosky said officials agreed to start developing the borough-owned property along Burns Street.
“We have 70 more acres of ground on that hillside to keep on going,” Sulkosky said. “We have enough ground to put in 100 to 150 houses.”
But Sulkosky said future development will depend upon the success of the first section being developed — and he has high hopes.
“We’ve already had inquiries,” Sulkosky said. “One person was ready to build now, and couldn’t wait the year. We have another person who already has her house plans done. She is just waiting for land.”
Nanty Glo’s quiet atmosphere, small school district and location near Route 22 is a plus for young families, he said.
“We aren’t far from Johnstown or Ebensburg,” Sulkosky said. “We have a very limited number of houses for sale in Nanty Glo, less than a dozen right now.”
He and Borough Council are hoping new homes will add to the tax base and enable future improvements in town.
Anyone wanting information about the lots may reach Sulkosky at the borough office: 749-0331.
The borough also is looking at redeveloping the former Nanty Glo Shirt Factory site into an apartment-style building for retirees.
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