East Deer to use $100K state grant to tear down 10 blighted buildings

East Deer is using state grant money to tear down 10 blighted buildings.

Residents of Marion Street, which has three of the targeted properties, were happy to hear the news.

“Hopefully soon they come down,” said Stephanie Headley, who has lived on the street for 15 years and calls the blighted properties “an eyesore.”

“There have been other houses on this street that have been torn down, and it made it much better,” Headley said.

For Amber Klinge, who has lived on Marion Street for about two years, tearing down the properties will make the community safer.

“It’s just a concern,” Klinge said. “There’s kids around. It’s always good when (the township) can actually clean up the neighborhood as best they can.”

The township plans to demolish buildings at 911 Bellview St., 168 Clarks Pike, 329 Crawford Run Road, 607-609 Edna St., 915 Freeport Road, 445 Marion St., 531 Marion St., 532 Marion St., 108 Meadow Ave. and 121 Murrayhill Road.

East Deer will use a $100,000 state grant administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to pay for the work.

“We’re going to advertise 10 properties, take them as far as the money goes,” Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani said.

Taliani said state Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, was instrumental in securing the grant money. Dermody represents Pennsylvania’s 33rd state House District, which includes East Deer.

Dermody said every community can benefit from getting rid of blighted properties.

“We have some communities in the Allegheny Valley that have some older properties and some abandoned houses. You could have that in the middle of a block. (That) can really just help contribute to the demise of a neighborhood,” Dermody said.

Taliani said the majority of the properties have been abandoned.

“In most cases, they were people that passed away, and the families walked away from (the properties),” Taliani said.

Taliani is hopeful the township will receive demolition contract bids to open at its October meeting.