Uniontown, Pa. – A housing study prepared for the city will be presented on Nov. 10, offering concrete recommendations to increase the local housing supply and boost economic development.
Report funded by local real‑estate group
The study was made possible by a $7,500 Housing Opportunity Grant from the National Association of Realtors, according to Justin Capouellez, political field representative for the Fayette County Board of REALTORS. Capouellez said the grant enabled a thorough analysis of Uniontown’s development potential.
Vacant land with infrastructure underneath
“It uncovers the opportunity for what the city could become,” Capouellez said. “We uncovered there’s a lot of vacant land in Uniontown and what makes that vacant land significant is there is infrastructure underneath that land, which is important because it drastically reduces the cost of producing new housing.”
Housing tied to job growth
The report also cites a statistic shared at a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce housing forum: for every two jobs created, one additional housing unit is needed to meet demand. “Communities that are able to capture working families are the ones that are going to be able to succeed,” Capouellez added, emphasizing the connection between housing availability and economic vitality.
Three‑part presentation
The Nov. 10 event will feature three sections. The first will walk attendees through the report’s findings and recommendations for expanding Uniontown’s housing stock. The second will include Tom McCosby, former president of the Pennsylvania Builders Association, who will discuss innovative methods for building high‑quality, affordable homes. The final segment will focus on the impact of WVU Medicine’s presence in Uniontown, with Uniontown Hospital highlighting successes from the past five years.
Looking to nearby models
Capouellez pointed to Wheeling, W.Va., as a potential model for Uniontown, noting the positive outcomes that followed WVU Medicine’s relocation there. By examining that example, city leaders hope to replicate similar growth and health‑care‑driven development.
The upcoming presentation aims to bring together developers, civic leaders, and community members to chart a path forward for Uniontown’s housing market, ensuring that families have affordable options while attracting new businesses and jobs to the area.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
