Mercer County Housing Authority is proposing exterior improvements to five of its communities in a capital budget approved Wednesday.

The work, similar to what has been done at Malleable Heights, Sharon, could include new facades, adding porches, improving parking and landscaping in a way that residents have their own yard area to maintain and use.

The money comes from an annual federal grant of roughly $1.5 million. The federal government changes the amount of the grant each year.

The communities slated for work are Sharpsville Gardens with the 2002-03 allocation, and Fay Terrace, Pymatuning Township, in 2003-04.

Mesabi Street, Sharon, would get the 2004-05 grant; Garster Homes, Farrell, the 2005-06 allocation; and Pine Hollow Village, Sharon, is slated for 2006-07.

Sharpsville Gardens, Mesabi Street and Pine Hollow Village also would get new playgrounds, according to the budget.

The authority does not have to strictly adhere to the budget, and can add or subtract projects and move them to a different year.

"The important thing is to get it into the five-year plan and we can have that flexibility," said authority Executive Director L. DeWitt Boosel.

The work won't necessarily be done during the year of allocation. The 2001-02 allocation is pegged for Valley View Homes, Mercer, but officials don't expect construction until 2003.

Mindful of the federal government's request that the money be spent more quickly, the authority is starting the planning process of some projects early, Boosel said.

The authority is developing a request for proposals to attract an architect for the Sharpsville Gardens project, and has planning money for Mesabi Street in the 2002-03 allocation.

Several smaller projects are sandwiched in with the modernizations, most notably renovations to the community center at 211 Federal St., Sharon. The authority is looking at setting aside $100,000 a year for three years for the work, beginning in 2003-04.

The authority also is planning to fix a wet basement problem at its main office in Sharon, and repair roofs at Malleable Heights, if they can wait that long, with the 2002-03 allocation.

At the end of the time table, the authority also is considering refurbishing the McDowell Manor, Sharon, community center, and converting some efficiency apartments in Vermeire Manor, Sharon, to one-bedroom apartments.