Westmoreland County funds demolition of blighted properties in Vandergrift, New Ken and Arnold
Dangerously deteriorated buildings in three Alle-Kiski Valley communities are among a dozen structures slated for demolition through Westmoreland County’s redevelopment authority.
The local buildings are in Vandergrift, New Kensington and Arnold.
Jason Rigone, director of the county’s planning division, said the goal is to bring all of the buildings down within a year.
“They’re either blighted, abandoned or vacant,” he said.
The county commissioners on Thursday approved $414,500 for all of the projects through a demolition fund program. Municipalities applied for the funding.
Rigone said it’s a plus that the money will be spread throughout the county. County officials work with municipalities to find projects that have redevelopment potential.
In historic Vandergrift, two buildings at 109 and 111 Washington Ave. made the list. Vandergrift Councilwoman Marilee Kessler welcomed the announcement.
“This is very good news for the community, and it’s nice to see that funds are available,” she said. “It’s a step in the right direction.”
The Vandergrift buildings have been vacant for years and are surrounded by yellow tape as a safety measure. They’re in a row of retail properties that date to the early 1900s.
Kurt Dunmire, of Dunmire Home Furnishings, located next door, expressed concern over damage to his building during the tear-down but is grateful for the action.
“I’d like to see an operating business be created there,” he said.
In New Kensington, the building at 1026 Fourth St. will be torn down. Owned by the city, it’s one of five empty structures across from the Pioneer Apartments owned by Wesley Family Services. It has long been marked with a red “X,” which warns emergency personnel and others that the building is structurally dangerous.
“We’re very happy that the county is providing funds through the Act 152 Demolition Program for this property,” New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said. “This building was in disrepair. As positive and visible efforts continue every day in our downtown revitalization, this piece of property will be of much more value once the structure is demolished.”
The demolition of 1708 Fifth Ave. in Arnold also will be funded. Since at least 2019, Arnold Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 has been seeking such funding because the decrepit structure has been damaging a building next door that it owns.
In 2019, Chris O’Leath of the fire company said the roof at 1708 Fifth Ave. had caved in, exposing the interior to rain, wind and snow.
“The water coming in through the damage in that building is damaging our building,” he said, adding they had been dealing with the problem for at least seven years by then.
Other properties slated for demolition are:
• Two properties in Jeannette, on Clay Avenue and Good Street, that were damaged by fires in 2020 and 2016, respectively.
• A structure at the former Ligonier Beach in Ligonier Township.
• 25 W. Main St., Mt. Pleasant.
• 407 Somers St. and 368 Zundel St., Rostraver.
• 216 Dos and 314 Klondike drives, Unity.
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