This document is a progress report on the Braddock Avenue Facade Improvement Pilot, a program run by Forged x Four Enterprise Zone. It is intended for community stakeholders, property owners, and local officials tracking corridor revitalization efforts. The report opens with an overview of the pilot's $64,308 budget, including $47,307 in committed facade grants and a $10,000 greening grant from…
This document is a progress report on the Braddock Avenue Facade Improvement Pilot, run by Forged x Four Enterprise Zone. It is written for community stakeholders, property owners, and local officials tracking corridor revitalization efforts in Braddock, Pennsylvania.
The report begins with an overview of the pilot's $64,308 budget, including $47,307 in committed facade grants and a $10,000 greening grant from Jefferson Regional Foundation. It explains that the pilot addresses critical repairs, supports private reinvestment, preserves historic character, and returns underused properties to active use.
Individual project summaries follow. Completed work includes Aunt Cheryl's Cafe, which received an $8,800 grant for a new entrance, and Hocky Bros. Auto Parts, which replaced damaged windows and later added power washing and repainting. A long-vacant historic building at 917 Braddock Avenue is being restored for retail and two apartments, with a $14,862 grant toward a $22,224 project.
The report also covers funded projects in progress, such as the Mon Valley Initiative/Free Press Building facade work and Sol Patch Garden's property improvements. It describes the next pipeline of projects under architect review, including restoration of the DeNardo Jeweler's clock, and technical assistance for Mele Brothers & Sister Florist, SC Salon, and Portgallo Peppers N'at.
Finally, the report notes that NAP resources were used for illegal-dumping cleanup to address demolition debris that had partially obstructed the sidewalk. It positions the pilot as a foundation for a forthcoming larger NAP investment along the Braddock Avenue corridor.