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Orchard Street Revitalization Plan
Orchard Street, which dissects one of Auburn’s most economically distressed neighborhoods, has been targeted for substantial residential investment through a collective effort between the City of Auburn, the Allyn Foundation, Home HeadQuarters, Homsite Development Corporation and the Orchard Street Area Association.
This neighborhood’s residents experience lower wages, higher unemployment, higher poverty rates, and lower owner occupancy rates when compared to the city as a whole and the rest of the nation. Despite the significant challenges of the area, there are several key assets that have the potential to encourage and spur renewal and growth. First among these is its proximity to the central business and cultural district along Genesee Street. Another is the number of historic housing structures on large lots that provide many amenities prospective homeowners seek, such as off-street parking, access to public transit and larger yard space.
Orchard Street itself represents the spine of the residential neighborhood that serves as the Orchard Street Area Association’s boundaries. The Orchard Street Revitalization Plan includes a focus on shoring up the weaker points of this spine in order to strengthen the entire neighborhood and benefit the existing owner-occupants that live along this main residential corridor. Specifically, partners have identified the three most troubled properties as 23, 25 and 27 Orchard Street. These properties were identified for demolition and will be replaced by two newly-constructed single-family homes.
Activity to Date
Home HeadQuarters received a grant from the Allyn Foundation to conduct a comprehensive plan of Orchard Street to map and document various key data items, including homeownership rates and housing conditions.
- With the plan in hand, the first order of business was the rehabilitation of 29 Orchard Street, which was completed by Homsite. The property now sits ready for a first-time homebuyer.
- The City of Auburn, through the Community Development Block Grant, has funding earmarked for the Benton Street Park which should see new playground equipment in the summer of 2011.
- Home HeadQuarters, with development funding from the Allyn Foundation and the City of Auburn, demolished the three blighting structures, which totaled 11 units. The property at 27 Orchard Street was deeded to 29 Orchard Street to give that house a larger side yard. Two new homes are underway at 23 and 25 Orchard Street and will be built for first-time homebuyers. Construction should be completed in early summer 2011.
Orchard Street – Mini Block Blitz
Welch Allyn was looking for a volunteer opportunity for their New Product Development Team. Jim Colvin and David Allyn from Welch Allyn, along with Meg O’Connell from the Allyn Foundation, were cheerleaders for the project, helping it to become a reality. Home HeadQuarters hopes to make this a regular summer event.
With nearly 50 Welch Allyn employees, Home HeadQuarters partnered with the City of Auburn, Tim McNally Construction, Murtaugh Restoration, Purcell Paints, Lowes and Sherwin Williams to execute the blitz which focused on four corner houses at a well traveled intersection – Orchard and Washington Street.
 Christine Alexander, through a grant from the Stardust Foundation, completed a colorful mural at 27 Washington Street. The house also got a new coat of paint, boards repaired at the front and a planter at the corner.- 25 Washington Street was the biggest transformation – the entire house was prepped and painted from white to dark green. One of the porches was shored up and landscaping was installed at the corner.
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 Dom’s Grocery had its white tiles buffed and foundation painted. Lighting was replaced and at the storekeeper’s house, new shutters and railings were painted. The house also received some landscaping and a planter at the corner.
- 29 Orchard Street was recently substantially rehabbed by Homsite in conjunction with the City of Auburn. This house received a significant amount of landscaping to spruce up the yard.
—Content and photos provided by
Crystal Purcell Cosentino, Home HeadQuarters
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