Demolitions in Penn Hills to continue after shutdown halt

Five demolitions in Penn Hills are back on schedule, the municipality said in a news release Monday.

The razings at 110 Bessemer, 206 Curtis and 1891 Runnette streets; 12409 Frankstown Road and 10019 Grandview Ave. were halted in January as a result of the federal government’s partial shutdown that extended 35 days.

In January, Planner Damian Buccilli said the municipality’s contractor, Jadell Construction Services, was unable to secure nearly $38,000 in bonds from the Small Business Administration, a federal agency that closed during the shutdown.

Penn Hills depends on federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish homes. Buccilli said demolition contractors doing work in Penn Hills secure bonds to cover the municipality if mistakes are made on the demolitions.

Council approved 11 demolitions in September for $75,000. One house was demolished by the owner at his expense, Buccilli said. The other five will be demolished soon by Lutterman Excavating for $37,400.