BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. — Bridgeville received a $1.2 million grant to buy up properties in flood-prone areas, including Baldwin Street, which saw flooding on Wednesday.
Joe Chettle owns two homes on Baldwin Street and has seen flooding about five times.
“The highest was about 4.5 feet on the first floor, over the kitchen countertop and everything,” Chettle said.
Chettle said the borough first went to him about two years ago, interested in buying one of his homes using the grant money. He signed the paperwork over the summer but has been waiting ever since.
Having to deal with another flooded basement on Wednesday didn’t surprise Chettle.
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“We got tenants and things like that that we need to give information to, and we just need a closing date,” he said.
The borough said it’s in the process of acquiring nine properties on Baldwin and Margaret streets.
Property owners will not be forced to sell their homes, but if they do decide to sell, the borough hopes to have them vacated by the end of the year to start demolition work.
Wednesday’s flooding forced the evacuation of people in about 20 homes.
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