McKeesport council creates registry to track vacant properties

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
McKeesport council on Wednesday took action designed, according to Community Development Director A.J. Tedesco, to help the city keep track of vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties.
Councilmen Keith Soles, Tim Brown, Rich Dellapenna and Brian Evans and Councilwoman LuEthel Nesbit unanimously voted to amend the Abandoned Real Property Ordinance, effective immediately.
Councilman Jim Barry and Councilwoman Jamie Brewster Filotei were absent for medical reasons.
The newly amended ordinance states the city “recognizes an increase in the number of vacancies and abandoned properties located throughout the city,” and that “The city finds that the presence of vacant and abandoned properties can lead to a decline in property value, create nuisances and lead to a general decrease in neighborhood and community aesthetic.”
Mayor Michael Cherepko said the city’s main reason for amending the ordinance is to improve the process for registering and keeping track of properties that have been foreclosed upon or soon will be foreclosed upon by a “mortgagee,” or creditor/lending agency, mortgage company or bank, and are or soon will be sitting vacant.

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