Harrison lands state grant for blight remediation

Several long-abandoned and tax-delinquent properties in Harrison will be demolished sooner thanks to help from the state.

Township representatives learned in late January that the municipality will get $100,000 from the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund (GEDTF) in its latest round of grants.

Money will be used for a recovery project to help clear titles of some of the 107 abandoned properties that have accumulated delinquent taxes.

“We’re looking forward to putting this money to good use and making the township a more desirable place,” Commissioner Jim Erb said.

The grant will help cover legal and engineering costs necessary to research and clear the titles of the targeted properties, Commissioner Chuck Dizard said.

“Since many of these properties are longstanding abandoned and tax delinquent, the legal process of clearing the titles can be rather complicated,” he said.

Some properties on the township’s list are likely to come down this year, maybe as early as spring, Dizard said.

They include 70 Chestnut St., 1263 Eighth Ave., 76 Pine St., 52 North Canal St. and 24 Wood St., among others.

“These are awaiting the county securing asbestos evaluation,” Dizard said.

Public bids for contracts will be sought.

Township Manager Rich Hill was not available for comment.

Harrison previously had received a $500,000 grant from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to help acquire dilapidated properties, primarily in the Natrona section, and implement an economic redevelopment plan.

Dizard said plans for 29 properties to be torn down with the RACP money will see movement this year, but demolition probably won’t happen until 2023.

Several of the properties in Natrona are hoped to be razed to make way for a riverfront vision. Among them is the former Boat House bar and hotel (formerly Sisters Hotel) at 1 Walnut St. and an old wood-frame Victorian home on the lower riverfront side at 51 River Ave.

Dizard said the county’s Department of Community and Economic Development is expected to assign a program consultant to the township to help with designs.

“The process will probably take a good part of this year,” he said.

Harrison is one of six municipalities across the Alle-Kiski Valley to share more than $600,000 in the GEDTF program.

In total, nearly $9.4 million was disbursed to communities in Allegheny County this year.

Fawn, Harmar and West Deer will receive money for parks, roads and traffic safety, among other projects.

Grant money is made available through a portion of casino slots gambling revenue collected by the state and is distributed through the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority.