Vandergrift officials continue efforts to fight blight in the borough

Vandergrift officials are continuing efforts to fight blight in the borough, but the walls aren’t tumbling down quickly enough for some residents.

This year, Vandergrift Council identified five abandoned and/or unsafe properties on Longfellow Street and Washington and Franklin avenues.

The borough recently completed the demolition of an abandoned former salon and apartment building at 326 Longfellow St.

Demolition costs are being covered through Westmoreland County’s redevelopment authority.

Two condemned properties at 109 and 111 Washington Ave. have been approved for demolition this year, but borough secretary Steve DelleDonne on Thursday could not provide a timeline on when the buildings will be razed.

Both Washington Avenue buildings, near retail properties across from the Casino Theatre and Vandergrift ATI, are marked off-limits to the public with yellow tape as a safety precaution.

They date to the 1900s.

Originally part of a DEMOFund project, funded by Westmoreland County, the historical status of both Washington Avenue buildings must be determined before they can be demolished, said Brian Lawrence, executive director of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank.

“This project was moved from a DEMOFund to a CDBG fund and, through that review, it was determined that the property could be — not necessarily is — a historic asset. Therefore, we have to hold public meetings to determine the fate of the property and whether any mitigation efforts should be underway,” Lawrence said.

Because of the change of funds, the potential historic asset and the public meeting process, the Washington Avenue project remains delayed, Lawrence said.

Lawrence praised Vandergrift officials for their proactive efforts to tackle blighted buildings. He urges other communities in Westmoreland County to follow Vandergrift’s lead.

“There are many other communities that could help us by providing us with an inventory of property that is blighted,” Lawrence said. “I’m a strong proponent of municipalwide property conditions assessments. When conducted, it informs the types of tools that are necessary to address the actual, on-the-ground conditions of buildings in a given community.”

The County Planning Department has only completed three assessments in the past several years.

Lawrence noted the property at 117½ Longfellow hasn’t been reported to the county as a blighted property.

In addition, 122 Franklin Ave. has been reported as blighted, but is not prioritized for any program or outcome, Lawrence said.

Vandergrift business owner Robert Buchanan doesn’t live in the borough but spends six days a week working at Allusion Brewing Co. on Grant Avenue.

He said addressing blighted properties should be a top priority.

“As we continue to revitalize and attract more people to Vandergrift, the need to remove and/or renovate structures becomes more paramount. It’s as much an issue of safety as it is aesthetics,” Buchanan said.

Vandergrift Mayor Lenny Collini said, although progress is ongoing, the fight against blight in Vandergrift is not done.

“We continue to look for more solutions and available funds to fix these blighted properties,” Collini said.

Resident’s concerns

Vandergrift resident Chloe Kruse lives along Grant Avenue and is concerned about the number of abandoned or dilapidated buildings.

“I live next to four empty houses that are slowly rotting, decreasing my property’s worth,” said Kruse, referring to what some borough residents call the “pigeon house,” a huge building vacant for more than a decade.

“Rental houses next door to me have been left vacant, and they sit empty because the landlord won’t fix them,” Kruse said.

Vandergrift resident Jim Dunmire, 58, lives on Sherman Avenue.

Dunmire said Holland Street and the lower end of Franklin Avenue are two areas that need attention in regards to blighted housing.

“They need to be taken down. I see them every time I drive around. I think it should be a priority, and they need to get on the ball and get it done,” Dunmire said.

Vandergrift part-time ordinance officer Brian Young did not return requests for comment.