Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority seeking blighted properties for demolition

The Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority has a significant chunk of money to help clear blight from communities.

Now officials just need vacant buildings with the potential for demolition, said Brian Lawrence, executive director.

“It is an essential thing that we have to face in our communities,” he said.

The countywide demolition program can cover a portion of demolition cost for municipalities and individuals that apply. Lawrence said about $150,000 to $200,000 is available. A typical single-family home can cost as much as $10,000 to demolish. The money available, through Community Development Block Grant funding, could be enough to bring down about 30 structures, depending on a variety of factors.

Property owners who want to demolish a blighted residential structure have to chip in part of the cost on a sliding scale, which could be as little as $500. Commercial structures have a larger cash match — a minimum of 50% of the total cost.

Lawrence said blight is a nuisance that affects others. It can lower neighboring property values and drive up the costs of public services. He said authority research shows calls for police, fire, EMS and code enforcement increase in areas where blight is prevalent. Structures selected for the program must meet certain requirements for level of deterioration, he said.

There have been 82 structures demolished through the program since the 2015-16 fiscal year for about $1.56 million, according to data from previous years.

Eligible property owners can complete an application at co.westmoreland.pa.us/652/Revitalization.