Tarentum gets buy-in from resident to help fight blight

Residents of West 10th Avenue in Tarentum can look forward to the cleanup of a habitual eyesore and potential hazard.

A buyer plans to pour $40,000 into renovations at 208 W. 10th Ave., Code Enforcement Officer Anthony Bruni said.

“This is a house that’s been vacant going on three years,” Bruni said. “The grass is about 2 feet high, and cats are going in and out.

“I’ve secured the back doors a couple of times because it keeps getting broken into.”

Council voted Monday to approve the acquisition and disposition of the vacant property, in line with the borough’s comprehensive plan.

According to the Allegheny County Real Estate website, the home last changed hands in 2011. The two-story house was built in 1910 and sits on a 2,400-square-foot lot.

Bruni said officials have been unable to contact the owner for years, and the borough considers the property to be abandoned.

Tarentum officials have made it a mission the past few years to fight blight and clean up neighborhoods.

The first phase of the demolitions began in 2019 and continued through this year.

In 2021, 26 abandoned homes were demolished. Another eight were on the list to come down this year.

Council President Scott Dadowski said the borough has made several attempts to contact property owners and has worked with people who appeared invested in renovating their homes.

Manager Dwight Boddorf said council is in the planning process of a second phase, which will determine what to do with vacant properties.

In the case of the home on West 10th Avenue, Bruni said, the buyer is going to clean it up and either flip it or turn it into rentals.

“It’s a positive thing to get it back on the tax roll,” he said.