SCRPC Offers Help with Empire Lot

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON SPRINGS — The Village of Sharon Springs Board gathered for their regularly scheduled monthly board meeting on Thursday, August 21st at 6:00 PM in the Sharon Community Building.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Denise Kelly moved through and addressed a number of items, leading up to a presentation by the new Executive Director of Schoharie County Rural Preservation Corp (SCRPC) / Schoharie County Housing Development Company - Rose Chase.

The presentation was an introduction and update on the organizations and what they do and why, but also the overall intention behind helping 102 Willow Street Sharon Springs, otherwise known as the Empire lot, which the old structure had collapsed on five years ago.

Chase explained that SCRPC’s mission is to preserve and create affordable housing and support families and individuals throughout Schoharie County alongside SCHD creating new housing.

SCRPC has been proudly serving the community for over 40 years, working tirelessly to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing options to seniors, families, and individuals across our rural communities. In 1986, SCRPC began managing the HUD voucher program under “The Village of Cobleskill,” providing housing subsidies for residents of Schoharie County.

Over the years, SCRPC expanded its reach and impact by opening Parsonage Pines, a 24-unit senior housing site in the Village of Schoharie and Springs Meadows, a 24-unit senior housing community in Sharon Springs. SCRPC also owns housing units for rent in the Village of Cobleskill.

Beyond affordable housing, this tremendous organization distributes a variety of grants and programs, including home rehabilitation and mobile home replacement, helping residents stay safely and comfortably in their homes longer.

The proposal would be for SCRPC to take over the Empire lot property with the vision of turning it into two affordable housing units: a three bedroom and a four bedroom.

The Village board expressed interest in working towards this goal with SCRPC and will reach out to the Village attorney for the next best steps.

For more information about SCRPC and the available programs, please visit www.schohariecountyrpc.com.

If you’d like to watch the full meeting for yourself, SCHOPEG was present recording this meeting. Please check out SCHOPEG On Demand at www.schopeg.com for the full video available now.

The regularly scheduled Village Board Meetings are on the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm, located in the Sharon Community Building at 129 Main Street, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. Please call (518) 284-2625 for more information.