Crumbling home gets top priority

By Christine Haines

chaines@yourmvi.com

Rostraver Township commissioners are getting an early start on their goal of tackling blight in 2021.

One of the dilapidated properties on the township’s top 10 list just got moved to the top spot and is expected to be torn down soon. 

“We’re going to jump on blight. We had made a list of dilapidated properties in the township and this one was toward the top,” said John Lorenzo, president of the commissioners.

Township code enforcement officer Frank Monack compiled a list of about 25 blighted homes to be addressed. Funds were then put into the 2021 budget for blight revitalization. 

The property at 976 Route 906 in Webster has been abandoned for some time and is in the county repository for failure to pay taxes, Lorenzo said. It is listed as being owned by a man who has died. 

Lorenzo said even though the property is still privately owned, the township is able to tear it down under its ordinances to protect the public.

“It’s a safety hazard,” Lorenzo said. “The roof collapsed and the building could fall onto Route 906.”

Lorenzo said the house was already on the blight list, but Monack noticed the collapsed roof last week when he was in Webster checking on another property, prompting him to move it up the priority list.

Lorenzo said the demolition will be placed on the commissioners’ Feb. 3 agenda for immediate action. Township workers will be able to handle the project, keeping costs down.

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