Housing rehab continues through CDBG grant
Installation of larger water and sewer lines has begun on W. Livingston Street in Tryon’s Eastside neighborhood through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The town received $600,000 of grant funding to complete housing and infrastructure repairs in the West Livingston area.
Double R Utilities, Inc. began the water and sewer line construction a few weeks ago.
J.R. Robbs, vice-president of Double R Utilities, said the water and sewer lines are both being upsized and a  fire hydrant is being added along West Livingston Street. The water line is being increased from a 2-inch to a 6-inch line. The new sewer line will be an 8-inch line.
The water and sewer lines in the area were aged and deteriorated, and there were drainage issues along W. Livingston Street, Robbs said. The water and sewer installation is approximately 75 percent complete with a storm drain system scheduled to be installed next. Robbs said he hopes the infrastructure improvements can be completed within the next six weeks.
The company has been working with property owners to provide access to homes throughout the project. The water and sewer line installation is occurring along about 1,000 feet of roadway. Once the infrastructure improvements are complete, the road will also be repaved.
Other improvements continuing in the neighborhood are emergency and rehabilitation home repairs.
A couple of homes have been restored with four more homes recently bid out for construction.
The Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (IPDC) is administering the project. Todd Frashier of IPDC met with homeowners for a pre-construction meeting on Monday, June 6 at 112 W. Livingston Street, where construction will begin no earlier than two weeks. That home will receive a complete renovation, including structural, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work and new windows. Frashier said the project is also concentrating on making homes more energy efficient.
Exterior repairs at 342 Markham, meanwhile, are complete, with minor renovations being done inside the home.
“The new structure is 100 percent better than it was,” said Frashier. “It’s safe and secure now.”
The $600,000 of CDBG funding is being used for administration, service delivery and rehabilitation of approximately six housing units, approximately five emergency repair units belonging to low to moderate qualified homeowners living in the Eastside community.
The final part of the project, improvements to Bryan Park, will be done using funds from the local match. The town plans to place a fence between the park and travel lanes and provide shade in the park.