City officials to discuss floodplain insurance relief

Nicholas Vercilla, New Castle News, Pa.New Castle News

New Castle city leaders are set to meet with federal officials in a bid to bring relief to high floodplain insurance rates for downtown business owners.

Jondavid “JD” Longo, the Citywide Development Corporation’s executive director, addressed City Council during Monday’s caucus meeting in his first public comments since being hired in May. Currently, around 90 residential and commercial properties in the downtown area pay an average of $10,000 to $15,000 a year through the National Flood Insurance Program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Much of the reason for the floodplain’s existence stems from a March 24-26, 1913, flood that caused two deaths, floods downtown, washed away four bridges and caused more than $3 million in damage.

Longo said, upon his hiring, he immediately reached out to U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16) and Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Longo said he’ll soon meet with Kelly.

Longo, Mayor Mark Elisco and Administrator Chris Frye will meet with elected officials and other key stakeholders and with the Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh to either eliminate the floodplain or lower insurance costs related to it.

City officials and business owners have decried the required insurance as a detriment to downtown economic growth.

“I’m certain we’ll at least be able to get some answers,” Longo said.

In 2023, council agreed to have Frye and RAR Engineering begin the years-long process to apply to be a part of FEMA’s Community Rating System which, if approved, would reduce insurance costs by five to 45 percent.

Otherwise, Longo said he has been acclimating and setting the stage for redevelopment during his first four weeks on the job.

He is also the current mayor of Slippery Rock Borough.

“I’m really excited about the potential. I’m looking forward to working with you (council) to bring New Castle to its fullest potential,” Longo said.

He has also been building a “coalition” of community stakeholders, including Lawrence County commissioners, businesses and nonprofits who all want to work with City Hall to improve the city, specifically downtown.

“Everyone wants to see the City of New Castle prosper,” Longo said.

As CDC director, his main responsibility is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit at the direction of its board. The CDC’s main goal is to help the city create and foster community and economic development opportunities for residents and businesses.

Council previously approved an agreement with the CDC in December to help fund the position through 2026, along with grant funding, in exchange for the position to be independent of City Hall. The position was budgeted $84,000 for 2025 and $86,520 for 2026.

One of the main projects Longo will help with is the ongoing initiative to update the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance.

In March, council approved a $96,000 contract with Michael Baker International to update the comprehensive plan into a single unifying document that will set guidelines for the city’s vision for the next 10 to 20 years, as well as update the city’s zoning ordinance to encourage further redevelopment.

The comprehensive plan was last fully updated in 2005.

Council wants everyone involved in the multi-year long process, which includes administration, council, the CDC and the public.

Longo also said Monday he is looking to find “continuous funding streams” for the CDC and wants to help strengthen the city’s code and zoning departments, as they are essential for redevelopment.

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