Cumberland County Redevelopment Authority (CCRA) is an organization with a mission to create quality, affordable housing and sustainable development opportunities to revitalize and strengthen communities in the local area.
Carlisle Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) develops housing for low and moderate income households to purchase. The organization aims to allow for families to become homeowners and a part of the community.
Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc. worked closely with CCRA and CHOC to conduct feasibility studies for neglected and abandoned properties that these organizations had identified as potential properties to redevelop. For properties that could be redeveloped, Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc. was hired as the exclusive design build general contractor. Work included completing site plans, developing building drawings, obtaining permits and constructing houses. In addition, Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc. ensured that each project met the requirements for funding sources, such as grants. As lifelong residents of the Carlisle community, Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc. was proud to be a part of these projects to provide affordable housing to residents and give back and improve the community.
“As the retired executive director of Carlisle Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC), I am writing to recommend Galbraith/Pre-Design for any business or individual in need of design-build services. I first met Allan Galbraith in 2005 as the new director of CHOC – a Community Housing Development Organization – while working on a first time homebuyer project in the Borough of Carlisle. Galbraith/Pre-Design was the contractor on two new town homes being built as part of CHOC’s West Street Pride project. Allan and Rich Saunders were patient teachers as I learned the ins and outs of new construction and working with federal funding.
CHOC’s first time homebuyer program would select a street in Carlisle and work to rehab older homes or build new homes in an effort to improve the neighborhood. Over its nineteen years in business CHOC provided over 67 families the opportunity to own their own home and Galbraith/Pre-Design was an integral part of the new homes constructed by CHOC.
Our most memorable and largest project was the East End Initiative. On North East Street a row of dilapidated and blighted town homes was demolished and two detached homes – one of which was a handicapped accessible home – were constructed, along with three town homes. Throughout all of the ups and downs and over a year of planning and working with the codes department, Galbraith/Pre-Design, with Rich as project manager stood by us and helped us get the project completed on time.
Working with Galbraith made my job much easier. I am happy to recommend them and their excellent service and attention to detail.”
– Amy L. Neurohr, Retired Executive Director, Carlisle Housing Opportunities Corporation
