MAYOR GOODWIN ANNOUNCES FUNDS TO UPGRADE PARKS & RECREATION FACILITIES, ADA COMPLIANCE

Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin announced tonight that Charleston City Council approved an amendment to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget. The federal funds – that were in reserve from 2016, 2017 and 2018 – will be used to fund several projects throughout the city.

• Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home - A halfway house for men recovering from substance abuse. This amendment will allocate CDBG funds ($45,800) to replace the HVAC System.  The KVFH will match approximately 18%.
• City of Charleston Planning Department – Funds will provide for an intensive historic resource survey and national register nomination of 5 Corners (Charleston’s West Side) historic district for tax credit eligibility. This amendment will allocate CDBG funds ($15,000) for consultant fees for a structural historian and will include historic tax credit workshops. 
• City of Charleston Engineering Department - Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is required to provide curb ramps when street, roads, or highways are altered through resurfacing.  This amendment will allocate CDBG funds ($80,000) for ADA compliant curb ramps.
• North Charleston Community Center – Parks and Recreation – This amendment will allocate CDBG funds ($59,320) for upgrades to the North Charleston Community Center.  Upgrades include: replacement of doors with panic bars, renovations to bathrooms to bring to ADA compliance, installation of parking lot lights and swimming pool repair.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center – Parks and Recreation – This amendment will allocate CDBG funds ($28,291) for upgrades to the Martin Luther King, Jr.  Community Center.  Upgrades include: raising front awning and adding gutters, replacement of doors with panic bars, renovations to bathrooms to bring to ADA compliance.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The primary objective is the development and support of viable urban communities. HUD believes viable communities are achieved by providing, principally for low- and moderate-income people decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities.