Blight: Public enemy No. 1 in Monessen

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Blight is such a nuisance in Monessen that when the city’s comprehensive plan advisory committee met with residents and stakeholders over the past couple years, it’s the word that came up most often.

It was identified as one of the priorities and the most obvious problem facing the city. 

“The downtown isn’t just littered with vacant storefronts, there are buildings with no roofs and trees growing through the windows,” the plan, prepared by Mackin Engineering, states. 

“Monessen is poised for growth over the next few years because of the increased growth in the suburbs and exurbs of Pittsburgh, including parts of Westmoreland County,” Mayor Matt Shorraw said. “We need to capitalize on that.”

Blight is a much bigger problem than just being an eyesore. Looking beneath the surface, blight is dangerous and costly.

It’s not unusual for vacant, abandoned houses to catch fire, threatening the homes around them. There is already a 21% housing vacancy rate in Monessen, and it’s not easy to convince people to buy homes next to blighted structures. Blight brings down property values and can attract crime.

When the city was in the state’s Early Intervention Program for financially distressed municipalities, a consultant prepared a separate plan that recommended city council address the blight issues in Monessen. 

That plan called for the creation of a Blight and Vacant Property Committee to develop a focus and strategy to address blight in commercial and residential areas. The consultant recommend the committee be staffed with city employees.

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