Tarentum is targeting 10 homes for demolition this year, all of which are deemed unsafe by borough officials.
The structures are abandoned and in such disrepair that it would be cost prohibitive to rehab them, according to a memo by Anthony Bruni, code enforcement officer.
The list includes:
• 913, 915 and 917 Porter St.
• 708 Pearl St.
• 119 W. Eighth Ave. (rear house)
• 714 Western St.
• 592 E. Seventh Ave.
• 144 Davidson St. (front and rear houses)
• 105 Britton Way
The cost is expected to be up to $175,000, including asbestos surveys and abatement.
Council is expected to vote on the Porter Street properties during its meeting Jan. 13.
The remaining properties will be discussed at a meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 5 but before demolitions are considered, council would need to hold separate hearings.
According to Bruni, most of the homes are tax delinquent and all are potential hazards.
“One of these properties is fire-damaged and demolition is the only option,” his memo said. “One is a house that has changed ownership three times in the last year but it is missing most of its roof and is full of mold.”
If council approves all 10 homes to be taken down, it would leave nearly 30 that still are considered at-risk — 21 in West Tarentum and six in East Tarentum.
“We will have to reconsider their statuses if our efforts to find new responsible buyers are not successful,” Bruni said.
