Penn Hills demolition plans in various stages
Share this post:
Multiple blighted and unsafe buildings will be demolished this year in Penn Hills.
Municipal planning director Chris Blackwell said plans to take down just under 40 properties are in various stages – from 19 properties under contract for demolition and a recent grant application for five more.
“Penn Hills has a robust demolition program,” Blackwell said. “We are proud of our efforts to remove vacant, unsafe and blighted structures. Each demolition project has unique characteristics, and each grant has its own unique requirements.”
Council at February’s meeting approved a near $66,000 grant application through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to fund the razing of five structures.
They include 8913 Eastwood Road, 8859 Frankstown Road, 2522 Main St. and duplexes at 8886/8888 Westwood Road and 8933/8933 ½ Eastwood Road.
Penn Hills officials previously awarded this year’s Community Development Block Grant demolition project to David Demolition. That project involved 19 structures and about $129,200 in grant funds.
Lutterman Excavating awaits permits to take down properties at 235 and 270 Bramble St.
The two-structure deal was awarded to the Greensburg-based company for just under $14,000. It is expected to be paid for with CFA funds.
Blackwell said Penn Hills will use about $30,000 in state Department of Community and Economic Development funds to knock down four properties.
They include 1915 and 1959 San Juan St., 7259 Schley St. and 7229 Lawton St.
The grant was completed with cooperation from the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments.
State approvals and local permits are still needed before that project can begin.
Blackwell said Penn Hills traditionally demolishes between 10 to 12 properties a year.
He credited being able to expand demolition plans to more than three times as many properties this year to the work of municipal planner Damian Butler-Buccilli in acquiring grants and great prices from companies.
“There is a limit to the amount of CDBG funding we can spend on demolition, so we seek out other funding sources when available,” Blackwell said.
Mayor Pauline Calabrese said razing the structurally-deficient homes will make the area safer for residents and the municipality more appealing.
“We are just really committed to making as many improvements in Penn Hills as we can,” Calabrese said. “We have projects in the works for our roads, our sewer system and beautification. We have access to grants and to funds. (Demolition) would give the opportunity to have a lot to rebuild on. Better to have a new structure than what’s there now.”
Any properties that are not demolished this year are likely to be on 2023’s demolition list.