Penn Hills council continues to fight blight, pursue funding for VOPP trail

Penn Hills council slated another property for demolition at its March 20 meeting, part of an ongoing effort to root out blight in the community.

Katofsky Construction will demolish the triplex at 8931-8933, 8933 ½ Eastwood Road, the company’s first such project in Penn Hills. Municipal planner Damian Butler-Buccilli said that the municipality aims to demolish a dozen or so blighted single-family homes in the fall, primarily with funds from the Community Development Block Grant program.

“The biggest factor to get a property scheduled for demolition is number of complaints by residents, visibility, police incidents, and availability of funds in pursuant to the properties own individual traits,” Butler-Buccilli said.

The municipality continues to pursue funding for the VOPP trail, a 14.1 mile walking and biking route that will span Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Plum. Council authorized the submission of a Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant application to the state to help construct a 1.31 mile stretch of the trail from Boda Road to the southern loop of James Way.

Penn Hills also renewed its three-year, $1 leases with the local baseball, softball and midget football associations for use of concession stands in Turner-Friendship and Penn Hills parks.

“Recreation is a really important issue for us. These concession stands are vital to the football, baseball and softball programs, so this really just adds to the amenities that we have for our residents,” Mayor Pauline Calabrese said.

Council also awarded a series of contracts related to sewer upkeep. JET Services Inc. will receive $363,838 between two contracts for CCTV inspection of municipal sewers and pipes, while ADS Environmental Services won a three-year contract totaling $143,784 to collect and report data on the sewer system.

Shawn Kerestus joined the planning commission through 2024 following an appointment from council. Kerestus, who’s running for council as a Democrat, has served as president of the Penn Hills Community Development Corporation for five years.

“He’s very active in the community,” Calabrese said. “I’ve known Shawn for a number of years, I know he’s got a lot of support, and it is absolutely my honor to appoint Shawn to the planning commission.”