Nehemiah Project plans to build series of single-family homes
Variances granted to construct 8 family homes on 11th Street
The Nehemiah Project is planning for the construction of eight single-family, market-rate homes along this stretch of 11th Street between Howard Avenue and the organization’s Hope Community Church. Mirror photo by William Kibler
The Nehemiah Project is planning for the construction of eight single-family, market-rate homes along this stretch of 11th Street between Howard Avenue and the organization’s Hope Community Church. Mirror photo by William Kibler
The Nehemiah Project is planning for the construction of eight single-family, market-rate homes along this stretch of 11th Street between Howard Avenue and the organization’s Hope Community Church. Mirror photo by William Kibler
The Nehemiah Project is planning for the construction of eight single-family, market-rate homes along this stretch of 11th Street between Howard Avenue and the organization’s Hope Community Church. Mirror photo by William Kibler
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The Nehemiah Project is planning for the construction of eight single-family, market-rate homes on 11th Street between Howard Avenue and the organization's Hope Community Church.
Acting on behalf of Nehemiah, Jeff Long Construction obtained critical variances recently from the city Zoning Hearing Board that would allow for cars parked in the driveways leading to garages for each house to back up onto 11th Street to exit the properties.
The variances are necessary because the lots slope downward at the back, making it impractical to provide vehicle access any other way, according to engineer John Sepp of Penn Terra Engineering of State College.
Nehemiah has been trying to organize the project for years, but was unable to get needed variances previously, when the proposal was for 26 townhomes, according to Long and a 2017 Mirror story.
Nehemiah representatives approached him, and he suggested the single-family dwellings, Long said.
He expects construction to begin in the spring and take a year and a half.
The homes would likely be wood-framed, one-story -- small at 1,200 square feet -- each with a one-car garage and each on a small lot, Long said.
It's not certain whether Long would build the structures, but if he did, he would buy the ground from Nehemiah prior to construction, he said.
He predicted the homes could sell for about $250,000.
The houses are rectangular, with the footprints of the attached garages partially biting into one corner of the houses.
The houses would straddle the bend on 11th Street, shortly above downtown.
The six houses closest to the church would be oriented with their short sides parallel to 11th Street.
The two between Howard Alley and Howard Avenue would be oriented with their long sides parallel to 11th Street, according to plans from the hearing.
The area is zoned mixed-use.
The Nehemiah Project was founded in 2008 by leaders of the Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, now Trans4mation Church, to help deal with drugs, crime and other problems in Lower Fairview. The project created Hope Community Church in a derelict church building the group renovated and it created The Wright Place for Kids community center after it obtained the years-vacant former Wright Elementary School building from the Altoona Area School District in 2018.
The Mirror was unable to get in contact with a leader of the Nehemiah Project on the proposed housing development despite multiple attempts to do so.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.