John Gersdorf was pleased to hear Friday that a dilapidated house on the property he owns in Janet is scheduled to be demolished.
“I totally agree. This place is in dire straits, but it’s kind,” he said. It needs to go down. ”
City officials agree.
Gersdorf’s property at 901 Zimmermann Avenue was among 18 properties considered for demolition at a public hearing held Friday by City Code Enforcement Officer Bill Wetzel. He said all the homes are vacant and considered public nuisances due to years of poor property management and code violations.
Property owners were notified of the action and invited to a public hearing on Friday. Five people attended. They were given the option of allowing demolition or signing an agreement with the city to renovate the property within a certain period of time.
Anthony Rocco Jr. left the hearing weighing whether it was worth trying to repair 424 S. Fifth St. Both rowhouses on either side of his property are in disrepair.
“I can’t fix the property. No one will want to live there,” he said.
Wetzel explained that the city wants 422, 424 and 426 South Fifth Avenue to be demolished because they are all public nuisances.
“We’re trying to divide them into groups of three or more,” he said.
Rocco did not dispute that 424 S. Fifth St. was in poor condition, but he still continues to mow the grass and pay property taxes. He attributed the poor conditions to a fire in one of the adjoining units, with a leak in the roof affecting the property opposite.
“I don’t want to sit there and mow for free,” he said.
Others whose properties were the subject of public hearings came to sue to keep their dilapidated homes alive.
Kenneth Jones, the owner of 228 Chestnut Street, claimed the trees on city property are causing damage to homes there. Improvements have also been made to the interior. City officials requested documentation of some of the work.
“I will communicate how I decide to move forward,” Wetzel said.
He also planned to decide later on whether to allow the owner of 23 S. 12th St. to begin a renovation project there. No one attended public hearings on the other 13 parcels.
City officials are reviewing a list of blighted properties and sending them to Westmoreland County for consideration for demolition through two funding sources.
• $10.4 million in American Rescue Plan funding has been set aside for such efforts in Janet and six other communities.
• County-wide demolition program. This program is funded by fees charged for recording mortgages and deeds.
In either case, the remaining land retains the same ownership.
The following properties will be demolished through American Rescue Plan funds: 228 Chestnut St., 23 S. 12th Street, 28 1/2 S. 12th St., 210 S. Seventh St., and 409 S. Fifth. St., 415 S. Fifth St. and 424 S. Fifth St.
The following properties are slated for demolition through the county’s demolition fund: 9 E. Division St.; 9 E. Division St. 120, 131, 214, 225 Good Street. 520 Gaskill Avenue; 625 and 638 Wiley Avenue; 901 Zimmerman Street and 1520 Harrison Avenue
Wetzel said the owner of 118 Good St., who attended the public hearing, plans to demolish the property himself.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Janet. She has worked for Trib since 2005. He can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.