The Easton codes department has inspected about half the city’s estimated 4,500 rentals and continues to re-inspect the densely populated West Ward as Easton’s rental licensing program enters its third year. Aug. 15 2008 marked the deadline for landlords to register their rentals and pay the $45 license fee for each apartment they own. According to City Inspectors, the most commonly missed items on the 33-point inspection include bedrooms without smoke detectors, no ground fault circuit interrupters within 6 inches of water and improper handrails and guardrails

Source: The Express Times, 8.25.08

On Wednesday 7/9/08, Easton city officials announced that $730,000 grant from Wachovia Regional Foundation that will help re-create Easton’s West Ward with environmental considerations. Turning trash-strewn lots and local dumping sites into community gardens, creating an access park to the Lehigh River and launching of an education program, Global Kids, are all included in the new urban ecology project.

Source: The Morning Call, 7.10.08

Easton’s Planning Commission gave preliminary approval during a special meeting Wednesday night for the Easton Housing authority’s estimated $73 million project.  The authority will raze 250 apartments and build 144 units — single family homes, townhouses, twins, duplexes and cottages for senior citizens. Forty-eight of the new units are designated for sale and the rest as rentals. It’s unclear when the authority could receive final approval. The commission meets again Aug. 6.

Source:  The Morning Call, 7.17.08