NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — About two dozen dilapidated houses should be cleared from New Kensington's neighborhoods by the end of the year.
Mayor and council, acting as the city's board of health, on Monday agreed to condemn 24 houses throughout the city.
Code Enforcement Officer Pat McGrath detailed the problems at each house, which for many included leaky roofs, rotting porches, broken windows and doors, overgrown weeds, piled-up garbage and rodent infestations. Some also had collapsing foundations or floors.
McGrath said he started with a list of about 70 blighted properties and singled out the ones posing the biggest safety concerns.
“These are the worst of the worst,” McGrath said.
The list includes 10 homes in or near Parnassus; 11 in the “hill” neighborhood from Constitution Boulevard to Freeport Road; one on Lancy Street above Mount Vernon; one on Meade Avenue off Route 780; and one on Robinson Street, on the far side of Arnold near the Allegheny River.
Of the 25 homes McGrath presented for condemnation, council gave only one a reprieve.
Lisa Curry of Manor Township said she has made strides to repair 644 Ridge Ave., a home owned by her brother, James Lizzi, until he died of cancer a year ago.
Curry said, and McGrath concurred, that roof repairs began at the house last summer and she wasn't aware the contractor hadn't finished the job until recently.
The roof since has been fixed, the outside cleaned up and the family is in the process of gutting the interior and bringing the house up to code. Curry said there are no structural deficiencies.
She said she wants to keep the house because it was owned by her grandparents. She hopes to rent it out.
Council held off action on Curry's property until September, when they will review the house's condition.
“I see a commitment here,” Councilman John Regoli said after Curry brought paperwork showing she's spent $5,000 on repairs.
Two reprieves denied
Council was not as lenient with Georgette Jordan of Leechburg, the only other property owner to come to Monday's hearing.
Jordan said she is in the process of buying back 404 Fourth Ave., a house she lost to a bank through foreclosure.
She said her husband is a contractor who plans to repair the house, which McGrath said has a leaky roof, a risky stairwell leading to the third floor and no plumbing, among other problems.
“It does need some work, I'm not going to lie,” Jordan said.
Ken O'Shell, who owns a neighboring rental property, argued for demolition of Jordan's house. He said it's been vacant for 12 years and has been a perennial problem for neighbors and the police.
“It's an eyesore,” O'Shell said. “It will not get fixed.”
O'Shell said the property has accrued $13,000 in unpaid taxes, which Jordan said she's making arrangements to repay.
Jordan said her family has had medical and financial problems that contributed to their inability to maintain the house.
Council was considering their options when, following an argument with O'Shell, a tearful Jordan told them she'd changed her mind: “Take the house. Keep it.”
Solicitor Tony Vigilante said if Jordan changed her mind and could bring proof that the taxes were being paid, council could rescind the condemnation next month.
“If I were in her shoes, I would run away from this,” Regoli said.
A third property owner, Delwin Cosia of Maryland, sent a letter to council requesting a reprieve for 1201 Leishman Ave. Cosia wrote he'd been in the process of repairing the building but couldn't finish the job due to financial problems.
McGrath said the building has been vacant for at least eight years. He estimated it needs $30,000 in repairs to the collapsing roof, floors, chimney and foundation.
Council condemned the building.
Notable houses
Among the properties approved for condemnation was 1253 Kenneth Ave., a house that police said was operating a speakeasy in 2005 when masked gunmen burst into a basement and shot three people, including homeowner Alan “Goat” Wilson.
The three victims survived; the gunmen weren't found. McGrath said Wilson has since moved to Florida; the most recent owner of the house was Direct Financial Group of Florida.
Also condemned was 282 Ridge Ave. at the corner of McCargo Street, a house that burned in a 2011 arson. McGrath said there was one other fire at the house.
McGrath said Saud Enterprises of New Jersey owns the building and had been repairing it until one of the owners fell off the roof and seriously injured his back. McGrath said it's been several years since the city has had any contact with Saud.
One of the houses to be demolished has been owned by the city since 2004 when it was bought through the county's repository of unsold properties. McGrath said 844-846 Seventh St. has a damaged roof, among other problems.
Mayor Tom Guzzo said the city will seek bids from contractors to have the buildings demolished this year.
The razing will be paid for by federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
“These are things we have to do to beautify our city,” Guzzo said. “It's the way to keep moving forward.”
This article was written by Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE.