Apollo, Harrison, Freeport, Leechburg enter HGTV contest for hometown makeover

At least four Alle-Kiski Valley communities are entering an HGTV contest for their shot at a whole-town makeover.

Residents in Apollo, Harrison, Freeport and Leechburg have taken photos and produced videos in hopes their towns will be chosen as the subject of “Home Town Takeover,” a six-episode series with Ben and Erin Napier of the series “Home Town” scheduled to air on the network in 2021.

HGTV received 3,100 submissions as of Thursday, spokeswoman Chelsey Riemann said.

The deadline for entries is Friday.

“The selected town will be announced after HGTV has reviewed submissions,” Riemann said.

Towns with populations under 40,000 are eligible. The selected town “will witness the rehab of multiple individual family homes and the revitalization of public spaces, such as parks, local diners and recreation centers,” according to HGTV.

Marcus Crawford, 35, produced a video focusing on the Natrona section of Harrison, where he lives with his dog, Buddy. Crawford, who grew up in the Natrona Heights area, said he bought a house on Sycamore Street because it was affordable.

“I’m sure a lot of towns applied that may not need it as badly as Natrona does,” he said. “We definitely do.”

Crawford drives a recycling truck for a living and does video production and photography on the side under “Crawfo Productions.”

Natrona could benefit from having abandoned houses torn down and its roads and alleys resurfaced, Crawford said.

“It’s really a good location. It just needs a little help,” he said. “I think we deserve it.”

In addition to Buddy, Crawford’s video features his mother, Bonnie Crawford, who grew up in Natrona, talking about the area, along with aerial drone footage.

“Hopefully mine is one of the better looking ones,” he said. “It’s worth a shot.”

Amy Guido, an Apollo-Ridge High School teacher and students Madison Nacey and Isabella Steffenino created the video for Apollo’s submission for the HGTV contest, according to the Facebook page Apollo Parade & Events.

Michelle Goetzinger, 43, coordinated Freeport’s entry. She grew up in Springdale, lives in Harrison and works as a real estate agent in Fox Chapel.

Her parents Gus and Dot Blume, now retired, once had a wholesale granite fabrication shop in Freeport. It was destroyed in a fire in 2015, and Goetzinger said the outpouring of support to her family in the wake of the fire contributed to her falling in love with Freeport.

“It’s a nice, quaint little town with a nice Main Street,” she said. “The more and more I learned about it, the more and more I liked it.”

Hundreds of people turned out for a pep rally that went into the video submission.

Goetzinger said Freeport’s assets include the riverfront and its trails, its business community and historic buildings, and proximity to Pittsburgh. But some of the building facades are run down, and the park could use some upkeep.

“I’d like to see some revitalization in downtown Freeport,” Goetzinger said. “It has a lot of potential to make a nice little comeback and be like Saxonburg or Oakmont.”

Gary Peterman, 64, has lived his entire life in Leechburg. His wife, Vicki Peterman, owns a shop there, The Gifted Garden, and he volunteers in events that promote the town. He spearheaded an entry for Leechburg.

“I think every small town in America is trying to renew themselves,” he said. “We saw that this opportunity was here, knowing that we’re going to be up against thousands of other towns just like ours. We put our video together with some people in town and some shots of things that need to be done.”

Peterman said Leechburg has buildings in need of renovation, and sidewalks and playgrounds need work.

“I would love it for them to come here,” he said. “The exposure for a small town like ours would be enormous.”

Staff writer Mary Ann Thomas contributed to the report.