The Rogers House Process

The renovations to Rogers House started with the assessment of the Building in the summer of 2015, at which time an application to the Land and Community Heritage Program (LCHIP) was submitted with Funds secured the spring of 2016. With an award of $425,000 from LCHIP the site was able to leverage additional funds from a private donation, Liberty Utilities, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and matching funds from HUD Grants. All total more than 1.5 million helped to return Rogers House to its original glory of 1911.

Funds were used to provide energy upgrades in the way of insulating all apartments and lighting fixture replacement, sealing existing windows, and the installation of a domestic hot water heat pump. The exterior was renovated by adding a much needed accessible second entrance. Rebuilding the front entrance completely allowing for better use by the tenants and visitors. Extensive renovations included: pointing and cleaning of the brick work, all metal trim was replaced where most had rusted and deteriorated, and wood columns and capitals were rebuilt.

The Rodick Lorraine Public Housing complex (49 units,1982) houses low-income elderly and disabled residents. The main entrance, an elevated bridge, is in need of replacement due to deterioration. It is heavily trafficked by residents, visitors, staff, health aids, delivery, and emergency personnel; as such, its lack of structural integrity is a serious issue. The issue was initially identified upon routine inspection by Housing Authority personnel; subsequently a Structural Engineer was consulted. To date, it has been temporarily reinforced per the engineer’s specifications.

Replacement of the entrance would not only improve the physical integrity of the structure; the proposed project and its upgrades would also improve residents’ quality of life. The vestibule and lobby redesign, for example, would let more light into an area where residents socialize, and allow greater access for emergency personnel. The proposed mailbox update would be ADA compliant, and a heated ramp and bridge would both further maximize accessibility and lessen the threat of a fall due to snow and ice buildup.