Mayors in two Westmoreland County communities said demolition of dozens of dilapidated structures has improved the health and safety of local residents and set the stage for revitalization efforts in their cities.
“It means we have reduced crime and reduced costs all around. It allows the concept of a reset and rebuilding of what the city is and what it can be,” said Monessen Mayor Ron Mozer of the county’s ongoing $10.4 million program to tear down old, unsafe properties in seven targeted towns.
County officials announced Wednesday that more than 100 blighted structures have been demolished since the program was initiated in 2022.
Administered by the county’s land bank and redevelopment authority, the program, funded with $10.4 million in American Rescue Plan funds, identified more than 600 properties eligible for demolition.
To date, 103 properties blighted structures have been demolished, according to land bank director Brian Lawrence.
Monessen has seen the most demolitions so far with 54 buildings torn down. Lawrence said 23 properties have been demolished in New Kensington, 19 in Jeannette, three in Vandergrift and two each in Arnold and Greensburg. One property is awaiting demolition in Penn Borough, he said.
A single-family home on Clarendon Avenue in Monessen was the 100th property removed as part of the program.
“It was in bad shape. The roof collapsed and the earth was swallowing it up at this point,” Lawrence said. “It had municipal claims on it dating back to 2004. Literally, it took 20 years. This property has been trouble for a long time and brought down the entire block in Monessen.”
The demolition program has brought a renewed energy in Monessen, according to the mayor.
“There is more blight in Monessen than the rest of the county combined. We identified about 450 blighted properties here about two years ago. When you remove blight, you make room for more opportunities for the community,” Mozer said.
New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo praised the program and said it has had a positive impact on his city, which has had old, structurally unsound single-family homes, an apartment building and a small business center demolished as part of the program.
“It has been a godsend for the community. People are very excited these structures are being torn down,” Guzzo said.
County officials expect as many as 450 properties will be demolished as part of the program that is expected to be complete in 2028.
About $2.1 million has been spent, and additional structures in the seven communities designated as program participants under federal regulations are being identified for demolition.
“We’ve demolished 100 properties in 15 months. It is remarkable, and we still have a ways to go. If we continue at this pace, we will exceed our projected numbers,” Lawrence said.
