[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6660990,"mediaKeyId","2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7","parentId",2427481,"title","City and CCIP report progress on ARPA-funded home rehabilitation program; applications closed","audioSeconds",421,"startMs",1994000,"endMs",2415000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7&start=1994&end=2415","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7/thumbnail_1994000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6660990/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/City-and-CCIP-report-progress-on-ARPA-funded-home-rehabilitation-program-applications-closed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660990-cad34f6359d304cb621df339ba7dc455/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215005&Signature=cvw6sI6WU4-xh6RElv60wP1Bwca-6sgXl5SdH-PAOLatlV4TGtOo4rrWC~YNYPwA2umxFJzG1mwlZFuF8bUlCJ1hp6KQtVKPx~5VMfSLk4XV8gpoqeAqdBYOJl406B7cpWguUQPRTA-QDNDWzzqu5RDt~AhrrF43mVUxVZUvtmPL45cOyABXO3~rk2vweBegz0ScewOc73ccMHMTl~QoGnbjr3tD4kWCU9tE69gk2kSyENVgN7waz6PanJ1FUnSYquPgY6EV~OHwPwYelJj01FHIyiv4MgkmS-SABBwc5E5B3R5cygIA~6Oi-vguwHPy~I6yOUoEj1pAWI6G1vxyhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Chester, PA","date","2025-02-27T12:15:38.82Z","article","Representatives from the Chester Community Improvement Project (CCIP) and city staff provided an update Feb. 26 on a home-rehabilitation pilot funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

Annette Pyatt, executive director of the Chester Community Improvement Project, and Amanda Johnson, city staff, said the program’s application period is closed. The program allotted capacity for 78 applications; CCIP reported receiving 38 completed applications that have entered the processing pipeline. CCIP said 27 projects are complete or at final inspection, four projects are starting renovations, 11 projects are in contracting/bidding and 12 projects are at the inspection/work-write-up stage. CCIP reported three applicants were deemed not eligible (the program used the term “not eligible” rather than “denied”) and that 12 applicants were deemed ineligible earlier in processing because they lacked supporting documents or did not meet program residence or income requirements.

Program details provided in the meeting record include a maximum grant of $10,000 per homeowner; projects that exceed $10,000 require the homeowner to pay the difference. Pyatt described typical work as roofing, heating systems, electrical and plumbing upgrades and windows. Contractors must submit licenses and insurance; CCIP invoices the city for ARPA funds and establishes a deposit to the contractor not to exceed one-third of the contract amount, with progressive inspections during work.

Speakers noted administrative delays: limited contractors available to homeowners, contractor documentation requirements, homeowners requesting changes after estimates and inspection scheduling bottlenecks (electrical inspection was highlighted). City staff and CCIP encouraged applicants and contractors to follow submission requirements to avoid delays. CCIP and city staff provided a phone number for status inquiries and said they will work with the city’s economic development committee on final steps to close the program.

The meeting record contains inconsistent statements about the program’s total ARPA allocation: presenters said the city allocated “over $780,000” and elsewhere a councilor referenced “$1,000,000 of ARPA funds” for community projects; another statement in the record said “750,000 was total allocated.” Those conflicting sums appear in different speakers’ remarks and are noted here as reported in the meeting. Council members said the program had no homeowner match requirement and praised program administrators for thorough work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chester City Council Regular Meeting | February 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chester officials and the Chester Community Improvement Project reported Feb. 26 that a home rehabilitation program funded with ARPA funds has 38 applications in process (out of a 78-application allotment), 27 projects completed and a waiting list; the program provides up to $10,000 per eligible homeowner.","taxTitle","Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania","taxId",64857,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6660994,"Chester police report: 37,578 incidents in 2024; homicide clearance rate 70%",674,926000,1600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7&start=926&end=1600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7/thumbnail_926000.jpg","/articles/6660994/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Chester-police-report-37578-incidents-in-2024-homicide-clearance-rate-70","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660994-9f47f4602040ed3272d25f99c4b20b58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215005&Signature=d983AjqW9ESVakZ~knSWISQj3m4aDnYEAhiTzYmrH-gDU0I4kP47B5dZzz94LK8u4puozT7ziWcULe37ciIuU-1AIw5VOt60I~OARby6xPsbL5N3I7UkKjXsJAIVqkLRNDvIngAyld4C3GeUdy5ih72P4J2QlMLr0FLVrBGnCnC1YRJZ0cZAlofEQK9aY3e3gteb~Zo8F6zDqyO-Pa-edp0Lt7O9HkwblNyfjcr~Fs7Z~7HNjC7UuQ3V1oBH5Xtcvj4qA8hMlzfKSjz6JNk1X29AOt3uCewwmLVZd0TOX5B39-vwrUd3bmL8xi1SmdnUdo52csA8zZJeCnAhiivPlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Commissioner Katrina Blackwell presented the Chester Police Department’s 2024 statistical report to council on Feb. 26, saying the department handled 37,578 reported incidents in 2024, up from 35,903 in 2023.

Blackwell provided a month-by-month incident breakdown and Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Part I comparisons for 2024: two arson incidents (two arrests), 176 assaults (86 arrests), 114 burglaries (15 arrests), 20 homicides (14 solved by the detective division, a 70% clearance rate), 66 robberies (five arrests), 422 thefts of nonmotor vehicles (27 arrests), and 40 thefts of motor vehicles (10 arrests). The presentation said 15 of the 20 homicides involved firearms and that firearm-related homicides increased compared with 2023 but remain below the 2020 peak noted in the report.

Blackwell said there were 35 nonfatal shootings in 2024 classified as aggravated assaults; nine of those were solved, a 26% clearance rate. She also reported a department-wide total of 924 arrests and detailed narcotics seizures and related arrests for 2024.

The commissioner reviewed training and equipment updates, including grants that funded drones, a drug-identification machine, crime-scene cameras, body-worn cameras, arson-investigation equipment and ongoing body armor replacement through the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership program. Blackwell also said the department is partnering with ScribeWatch to improve public information and that a detective hiring test and a future sergeant test are planned.

On recruitment, the presentation stated the department is accepting applications for patrolman until Feb. 28; applicants need not be certified and the department will sponsor qualified candidates for the Delaware County Community College Municipal Police Academy. Blackwell and council members discussed related logistics and test dates; a staff member later referenced a March test date during the Q&A.

Councilors thanked Blackwell and county prosecutors were singled out for partnership on violent-crime reductions. The commissioner said she will provide the report to the mayor and council and that the department planned to post the statistics on the city website.","Police Commissioner Katrina Blackwell presented 2024 departmental statistics to council Feb. 26: 37,578 reported incidents, 20 homicides (70% clearance), 35 nonfatal shootings (26% clearance), and 924 arrests. The department discussed staffing, training, recent grants and recruitment deadlines.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6660997,"Chester council approves $700,000 addendum to Colliers engineering contract, adds GIS work",257,607000,864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7&start=607&end=864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7/thumbnail_607000.jpg","/articles/6660997/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Chester-council-approves-700000-addendum-to-Colliers-engineering-contract-adds-GIS-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660997-7bcbcf6d5b465d0d9574035d7ea5bee4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215005&Signature=l5Io-iBKoan69--V8HiruhDQps-P6nPVW3vxV27WViY6DbB~24o8mxAxmN-RCOjQm8NsxWE76Ks46-bLymd7szo4ueEZRtmFZ9X0OS98TQGchGF4KiuWAuWgYLXndjruRW7nY~yCESbGhqd7BA-wHKL-ETyyOpuahFzkdCPXV9UjXUmKUG9WnJfQ7GAuhZR4NXRGZAzowOk1kKbL0xpSFCImay0vhisHqNJ~KiwvYO3K~0NSW~~4n6iD9h-W9WmGsES0cbK1pKdfBrDbh2lHOF37G9uwR4bnXVR0tS6e1fD0CiAtIvmPPiERTy4CDAS2teMnKiN6psRWfLXRoKdUqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chester City Council approved a third addendum Feb. 26 to its existing contract with Colliers Engineering & Design Inc., increasing the contract amount by $700,000 for a new total of $1,095,800 and expanding the scope to include implementation of the city's geographic information system (GIS) program and additional engineering projects.

The resolution states the original agreement dated March 13, 2024 provides hourly rates and reimbursable expenses and that addendum work will be funded from a mix of sources including the general fund, capital improvement fund, liquid fuels fund, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, grants and developer escrow accounts. The resolution lists that Chester budgeted $555,724 in calendar year 2025 and proposes to budget an additional $185,241 in calendar year 2026 in ARPA funding for engineering services related to certain projects, including the public works facility.

The council directed the chief of staff to provide quarterly reports to council with project updates and engineering costs expended on each project. The addendum is contingent on final approval of the city solicitor and the council vote was recorded as yes from Councilor Green, Councilor West, Councilor Davis and Mayor Root.

No public comment in opposition was recorded. The resolution did not specify a vendor invoice schedule or project start dates in the meeting discussion; it delegated execution to “proper city officials” pending solicitor signoff.","Council approved a third addendum Feb. 26 to the Colliers Engineering & Design contract, increasing the contract by $700,000 to $1,095,800 and expanding work to include the city's GIS program and final engineering for a new public works facility; the addendum is contingent on city solicitor approval.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6661000,"Council grants final approval to reverse-subdivide five properties at 609 West Third Street",112,491000,603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7&start=491&end=603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7/thumbnail_491000.jpg","/articles/6661000/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Council-grants-final-approval-to-reverse-subdivide-five-properties-at-609-West-Third-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661000-2b5b6f9deba0e510ed5a59734a676d8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215005&Signature=PPAPcRQiHvZ5L1W-BLALjSmeBFW6IZc4agngkpC3g4FlNsw2yv-WW1uSHamcEy6nkmowilP58lAMm9nCcd~W~vpkjjennka8HU3GJd-DH6RQxg~3dypn4xsJ1-VBqFfkrpqowxlAD6qYiz7IQY2qMmWXRGkvNFRm143OSl4JcwFroXWmsdZklMUpzav5gMp1DCbYYFKkWPY312UWRNMJZ1TpdjpkIWY29ifyHx7p78KvpYmcHqQgqc~WiHkrPF9Y2hWF-L8FINKH1SqH~88hVbQ8311sP732Tjm66zpQZIi6g9YYJvFI8uzH6wDuFq8OHofTPoYj~IYKEo~JRBo0ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chester City Council granted final approval Feb. 26 for a plan by Greg Zyla to reverse subdivide 10 lots into a single lot at 609 West Third Street, Chester, Pa., conditioned on addressing outstanding review comments from the city Planning and Zoning Department and Colliers Engineering and Design.

The resolution cites recommendations from the Chester City Planning Commission (02/12/2025) and the Delaware County Planning Commission (11/22/2024) and relies on a plan prepared by Lynn Architects dated Aug. 30, 2024 and revised Jan. 23, 2025. The council vote was recorded as yes from Councilor Green, Councilor West, Councilor Davis and Mayor Root, and the resolution passed.

During brief council remarks, Mayor Root praised the property owner and project partner Greg Zyla, calling the company's work “really making us proud.” The resolution requires the applicant to address the remaining comments outlined in the Planning and Zoning Department review letter dated Jan. 31, 2025 and the Colliers Engineering and Design review letter dated Feb. 6, 2025 before final implementation.

No public objections or conditions beyond the stated review-letter comments were recorded in the meeting transcript. The resolution authorizes city officials to record the approval; no building permits or construction start dates were specified during the session.","Chester City Council granted final approval Feb. 26 for a plan to reverse subdivide 10 lots into one lot at 609 West Third Street, conditioned on addressing remaining planning and engineering comments.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6661002,"Chester council approves honorary street sign for Reverend Jeremiah Witherspoon",163,231000,394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7&start=231&end=394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427481-67059f310d21636dfe8a019d606f90e7/thumbnail_231000.jpg","/articles/6661002/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Chester-council-approves-honorary-street-sign-for-Reverend-Jeremiah-Witherspoon","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661002-c36fddbbb3f712e67000c2b208020373/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215005&Signature=dt5z28HHT2SwSScf2s8BxDQ6r40~7JrXgEnCsr02CCVN7XcPKEDm-WcovyfwDAY53lrbZG2i6~lV0QXKarFboZVpE3rkK6YmM4D~dHyqbh3jzTBhnttlz2P~4CInqEaP7BdP5EVpuZFIPCOllWseCYGgNBgk-KdUMN4WkRYts1ILBLMB-whDyzhWb9hT--R2ip9HwpfmjLWRmbWwsCEL0UqiIWEk4vKLhdk8V0~Rpi8QchqEXuZDaiWDYvZiTXU5jAe7oNuAfvjTk-uhernEG4BO9Vgm34g38vIQmmfM0thy-qFxoXum8r9j6Q6YfB-kdM0LnjBWIglDv0ZNR-JSog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chester City Council voted unanimously Feb. 26 to install an honorary street sign renaming a portion of Butler Street at Seventh Street as Reverend Jeremiah W. Witherspoon Way to honor the pastor’s decades of service to Temple Baptist Church and the community.

The resolution, introduced and read during the meeting, passed on a roll-call vote with Councilor Green, Councilor West, Councilor Davis and Mayor Root voting yes. The measure authorizes the Department of Public Works to order and install the sign.

The resolution text summarized Witherspoon’s ministry, noting his first sermon in 1949, ordination in 1955 and later leadership roles, and called out his long-term impact on Chester and surrounding areas. Mayor Root praised Witherspoon’s community presence, saying, “Who in this room does not know or did not know Reverend Jeremiah Witherspoon? … He was a force and one of the funniest guys in the world.”

Council members and the mayor characterized the sign as part of an ongoing effort to recognize community leaders; the council president said the city has processed several similar honorary street dedications in recent months. No public opposition or conditions to installation were recorded during the meeting.

The resolution directs the Department of Public Works to install the sign; the council did not specify an installation date in the meeting record. The city clerk recorded the vote as four yes votes and no no votes; a council member was absent and the resolution was approved.","Chester City Council voted unanimously Feb. 26 to authorize an honorary street sign naming a portion of Butler Street at Seventh Street after longtime pastor Reverend Jeremiah W. Witherspoon.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City and CCIP report progress on ARPA-funded home rehabilitation program; applications closed

Chester police report: 37,578 incidents in 2024; homicide clearance rate 70%

Chester council approves $700,000 addendum to Colliers engineering contract, adds GIS work

Council grants final approval to reverse-subdivide five properties at 609 West Third Street

Chester council approves honorary street sign for Reverend Jeremiah Witherspoon