Hopewell Borough Council members have designated the entire borough as an area in need of rehabilitation.
The governing body, which approved the designation at a meeting on Nov. 7, had commissioned Borough Planner Joanna Slagle to complete a report examining the designation of the borough as an area in need of rehabilitation through local housing redevelopment law.
Slagle’s report found that most of the borough’s housing units were constructed in 1939 which met one of the criteria for the designation “age of housing.” If more than half of the housing stock is at least 50 years old, it may be designated as an area in need of rehabilitation under the state’s local housing and redevelopment law.
The designation as an area in need of rehabilitation provides the borough and other municipalities with additional tools encouraging development and helps property owners make improvements.
With the designation approval, the expectation is that a rehabilitation program would prevent further deterioration and promote overall development of the community.
Prior to the governing body approval, the Planning Board had recommended the designation after review of Slagle’s report and the resolution.
According to the resolution, Borough Council has authorized the preparation of a rehabilitation plan by Borough officials and consultants that would set objectives and goals, and also have actions for the borough.
