Mon Valley Initiative open house shows off renovated apartments
Six units are available following a Mon Valley Initiative project at Cornerstone Apartments in West Newton.
Dionna Rojas Orta, community-based coordinator with Mon Valley Initiative, stands in a firstfloor room at Cornerstone Apartments in West Newton during Thursday’s open house. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent
A historic building in the heart of West Newton could become your next home sweet home.
On Thursday, more than a dozen residents stopped by an open house held by the Mon Valley Initiative at the Cornerstone Apartment building along Main Street to see renovations more than a year in the making.
The MVI is a local economic development organization that works to improve the lives of residents in
Laura Zinski, CEO of Mon Valley Initiative, visits a kitchen and dining area inside a two-bedroom unit on the second floor of the renovated Cornerstone Apartments building. The space features high ceilings and large windows that overlook Main Street in downtown West Newton. Jeff Helsel / MVI
Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties by rebuilding community infrastructure, investing in affordable housing and connecting employers to potential new hires.
The organization also offers housing counseling, workforce development and financial coaching in addition to real estate and community development.
Leaders from the organization proudly stood on the stoop of 203 E. Main St. to celebrate the completion of a year-long renovation to Cornerstone Apartments.
The historic seven-unit building in the heart of downtown West Newton was formerly the Dick Building.
Built in 1890, it has served a lot of purposes over the years. At one point it housed a barber shop and antique store, with a bank on the first floor and residential apartments upstairs.
It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 because of its Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style faced with rough stone.
It’s conveniently located near shops and eateries and is a stone’s throw away from the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage.
The building has been owned by the MVI since 2019, but the organization has been involved with helping to renovate and restore the property for 25 years.
In 2003, the MVI partnered with Downtown West Newton Inc. to renovate the property with support from Westmoreland County.
Now, more than 20 years later, the property has again been renovated — a nearly $300,000 investment — as part of the MVI’s continued effort to preserve and create affordable housing throughout the region.
The most recent renovation included new windows, exterior doors, flooring, kitchen cabinetry, laundry and basement storage units.
The building’s HVAC was also updated and each unit got a coat of fresh paint.
Cornerstone Apartments feature four one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units that are between 715 and 1020 square feet.
MVI Chief Executive Officer Laura Zinski said Cornerstone Apartments is the most recent example of a project that highlights MVI’s ongoing efforts to preserve affordable housing throughout the Mon Valley region.
From 4 to 7 p.m. potential tenants and interested residents and neighbors had the opportunity to walk through the building and its six available units. One tenant has lived there for several years and maintained her lease through the renovations.
The drop-in event allowed community members to tour the renovated apartments, meet MVI staff and learn more about programs and opportunities, including housing, currently being offered.
Cornerstone Apartments is one of 15 rental properties owned by the MVI, with others in Clairton, Charleroi, Monessen, East Pittsburgh, Turtle Creek, Swissvale, North Braddock and Braddock.
MVI’s rental portfolio includes more than 160 residential units throughout Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Most rental units are income-restricted and available to residents applying using Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8).
A lot of the properties the MVI owns and has renovated have a bit of character.
Cornerstone Apartments is no different.
Though the upgrades have made the units feel modern and updated, care was taken to maintain the building’s charm and historic character. Many of the original ornamental elements crafted in the 1900s have been preserved, including stained glass windows, fireplace mantels, baseboards and turret window seats.
“We don’t specifically look for those types of properties, but they tend to work for what we are trying to do,” Zinski said. “We look for opportunities that allow us to build on assets we already have and that are established within the community.
“So here, this is right in the heart of town, so it’s a very important building to be kept in good condition and serving a useful purpose. So we really try to invest in buildings that will help rebuild the fabric of these communities and hold them together.”
The MVI opened its first housing development four decades ago and is still making progress within communities of the region to ensure housing is affordable and accessible.
Since 2013, MVI has leveraged more than $60 million in direct new investments that have ensured a new supply of quality, affordable housing for buyers and renters and reaffirmed real estate values for existing property owners while also encouraging new private development.
The work done by the MVI creates opportunities. It helps residents find success, plant roots and find their homes.
Projects like Cornerstone Apartments show communities that change is possible and opportunities are available.
“This is something very visible, so once people see it and learn about it, they realize it’s a tangible thing,” Zinski said. “You might think renovating a building or offering housing is basic, but it’s something everyone needs. We have houses here, we have infrastructure here across this entire region.
“People might think they want a home, or to not be in the middle of town or in an apartment, but there are a lot of people who don’t want to cut grass or deal with outside maintenance or other things like that. So renovating these types of properties provides an opportunity for a lot of different housing types within a community.
Whether it’s the heart of a small downtown or a more residential area, the Mon Valley is full of special places to call home.
“People say why would you want to live here, but take a look around and once you see it, it’s more like why wouldn’t you want to live here?” Zinski said. “These Mon Valley towns, in my opinion, are hidden gems. Full of character and charm. Once you see them, spend some time in them, it’s hard not to fall in love with them. And, once you find home here, people really lean into it and are proud to say this is their home, their town.”
With Cornerstone Apartments ready for tenants, the MVI has two other ongoing projects.
In North Braddock, the MVI started a housing redevelopment project earlier this year by acquiring 22 blighted parcels in the Hawkins Avenue corridor, a primary entry point into the borough.
The first phase of the project will entail the demolition of existing structures, as most of the buildings are in a state of disrepair due to years of lying vacant.
The area’s housing vacancy rate is at 25%, more than twice as high as Allegheny County’s housing vacancy rate.
Two structures are currently slated to be renovated, and an additional four new construction homes are expected to be built in the project’s first phase.
The MVI is also renovating a church in Braddock to turn into residential apartments.
Braddock Church Residences is a $2.9 million project and will bring eight units of mixed-income housing to Braddock while restoring a church built in 1893.
The eight apartments will include one- and two-bedroom units, six of which will be reserved for individuals or families at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) and two of which will be market rate.
For information on MVI programs, rental properties or commercial properties, go to monvalleyinitiative.com.
Potential tenants can reach out to the MVI’s property manager directly by calling 412-271-1300 or emailing mvirentals@monvalleyinitiative. com.
