Onofrio Street a Team Effort
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
Onofrio Street may be Sara Andrews' baby, but she admits getting the neighborhood in the shape it's in today took a team effort.
Andrews, executive director of the Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development, spoke Thursday morning during the ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for North Onofrio Street – the third phase of the revitalization project.
She said in the community development field people "get a career project every once in a while and, for me, this is it."
She added that the project has been a big part of her life – and her husband's – for the last 10 years.
Her husband Jeff Andrews is the OECD construction manager and she says his "construction expertise and love of housing has made these old homes come back to life."
"He's the one who wanted to keep the integrity of the old homes," she said.
She also thanked Joe Kuhaneck and the OECD construction crew for their "craftsmanship and dedication."
And she thanked Nick Cummins from Bob Cummins Construction Company who, she says, "shares my vision for building homes in the community."
Cummins built homes in the Chelsea Lane subdivision and has projects in the works for townhouses and high-end apartments.
Sara Andrews also said the project wouldn't have been possible without the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the grants they provided.
She added that Action Team Executive Director Jackie Parker "shares the vision."
Parker said Andrews "always has a vision for something else," then presented Mayor Tom Riel with a $250,000 check for Phase 2 of the Elm Street Neighborhood project. The grant money will go toward streetscape work and façade improvement.
Andrews said in his nine months as mayor Riel has been "very supportive of community development activities. … He's even gone out on his own and tried to do some things with cleaning up the community."
"Bit by bit, I think he's going to do it," she said. "He's very dedicated to helping make Bradford a better place to live."
Andrews also said grant money secured by Senator Joe Scarnati at the beginning of the project "certainly put us over the top … and made it work financially."
Scarnati said, "This could not be done in other areas of the state. … You could not duplicate this project in a Philadelphia neighborhood. – Maybe for millions and millions more dollars – But not what was done here. It took leadership. It took true vision. And it took teamwork."
"I am so proud of what this community, what this organization, and all those involved have accomplished," Scarnati said.
State Representative Marty Causer added, "This is an example of what can be done when we all work together toward a common goal. This is a model for the rest of the state."
Andrews also had a message for the 29 Onofrio Street homebuyers.
She said her greatest joy is handing over the keys of a house to a new homeowner, and she appreciates the homebuyers sharing her vision and wanting to live on the street.
"My greatest pleasure has been working with all of you and getting to know you and your families," Andrews said.
WESB/WBRR News Director
Onofrio Street may be Sara Andrews' baby, but she admits getting the neighborhood in the shape it's in today took a team effort.
Andrews, executive director of the Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development, spoke Thursday morning during the ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for North Onofrio Street – the third phase of the revitalization project.
She said in the community development field people "get a career project every once in a while and, for me, this is it."
She added that the project has been a big part of her life – and her husband's – for the last 10 years.
Her husband Jeff Andrews is the OECD construction manager and she says his "construction expertise and love of housing has made these old homes come back to life."
"He's the one who wanted to keep the integrity of the old homes," she said.
She also thanked Joe Kuhaneck and the OECD construction crew for their "craftsmanship and dedication."
And she thanked Nick Cummins from Bob Cummins Construction Company who, she says, "shares my vision for building homes in the community."
Cummins built homes in the Chelsea Lane subdivision and has projects in the works for townhouses and high-end apartments.
Sara Andrews also said the project wouldn't have been possible without the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the grants they provided.
She added that Action Team Executive Director Jackie Parker "shares the vision."
Parker said Andrews "always has a vision for something else," then presented Mayor Tom Riel with a $250,000 check for Phase 2 of the Elm Street Neighborhood project. The grant money will go toward streetscape work and façade improvement.Andrews said in his nine months as mayor Riel has been "very supportive of community development activities. … He's even gone out on his own and tried to do some things with cleaning up the community."
"Bit by bit, I think he's going to do it," she said. "He's very dedicated to helping make Bradford a better place to live."
Andrews also said grant money secured by Senator Joe Scarnati at the beginning of the project "certainly put us over the top … and made it work financially."
Scarnati said, "This could not be done in other areas of the state. … You could not duplicate this project in a Philadelphia neighborhood. – Maybe for millions and millions more dollars – But not what was done here. It took leadership. It took true vision. And it took teamwork."
"I am so proud of what this community, what this organization, and all those involved have accomplished," Scarnati said.
State Representative Marty Causer added, "This is an example of what can be done when we all work together toward a common goal. This is a model for the rest of the state."
Andrews also had a message for the 29 Onofrio Street homebuyers.
She said her greatest joy is handing over the keys of a house to a new homeowner, and she appreciates the homebuyers sharing her vision and wanting to live on the street.
"My greatest pleasure has been working with all of you and getting to know you and your families," Andrews said.
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