Three abandoned Tarentum homes that officials say double as raccoon and rat refuges could come down as early as next month.

“All three are in severe disrepair. They have holes, mold and are a nuisance to their neighborhoods,” code enforcement officer Anthony Bruni said.

Work could start by late August or early September if contract bids are approved by council July 28, Bruni said.

The homes are at 110 W. 11th Ave., 1219 Pitcairn St. and 338 W. 10th Ave. (rear).

Two of them, on West 11th and Pitcairn, are shrouded by overgrown shrubs and trees. The house on Pitcairn is almost completely unnoticeable.

Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said pest control is included in the demolition process.

“Once a contractor is awarded the contract, they will be required to perform pest/rodent control,” he said.

The borough has not received any complaints from neighbors, Boddorf said.

3-year effort (and running)

An ongoing effort by council to remove eyesores and safety hazards began three years ago.

If approved, the project would bring the total to 60 properties that the borough has gotten rid of since then.

This year, $75,000 is budgeted for demolition, half of which was spent to tear down a building in the Corbet Street commercial district, Boddorf said.

Council also paid $1,350 for asbestos testing on the three homes, which showed two of the properties had more than the allowable amount and it needed to be removed. The Pitcairn Street residence did not require remediation.

Boddorf said the borough has not been able to collect taxes from the properties for several years. Several attempts to reach the property owners have been unsuccessful, he said.

It’s not just that the homes have become eyesores, Bruni said. Houses on this year’s list need to be razed because they are deteriorated to the point that there is structural damage to roof and floors, he said.

Bruni said the house on West 10th Avenue is especially bad because rain runs in through a hole in the roof and has created significant amounts of mold.

“They all pose a threat to the neighborhoods, and they are havens for raccoons and rats,” he said. “They are eyesores and public nuisances.”

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