Westmoreland County leaders seek input on reviving abandoned properties

It will be up to residents and leaders in Westmoreland County communities where large-scale blight removal is underway to bring a vision of improvement to life.

County redevelopment authority executive director Brian Lawrence said he hopes meetings planned with community members over the next week will inspire them to take charge of their neighborhoods.

“Ultimately, this is an attempt to give our communities a springboard from which to build off of those that were negative … to something that can be positive in a neighborhood,” he said.

Five meetings are being held for residents of seven communities where — with $10.4 million in federal money — blighted, dangerous and dilapidated buildings are being demolished. The American Rescue Plan funding is being used in Arnold, Greensburg, Jeannette, Monessen, New Kensington, Penn Borough and Vandergrift. It’s an opportunity for all seven to redefine neighborhoods and business districts free of blight.

As many as 500 properties could be demolished, though officials have said they hope half to 75% of that number are torn down as liens, and other ownership issues might be roadblocks. Some might end up being renovated. The work is designed to take place over the next five years.

But residents and leaders have to lead the redevelopment charge after the properties are clear, Lawrence said.

The first meeting was held Thursday in Monessen. Others are scheduled for next week in the remaining communities.

The county redevelopment authority and land bank are working with Somerset firm Stromberg Garrigan & Associates to gather community input and share potential ideas during the sessions. The firm specializes in comprehensive landscape architecture, urban planning and design. Its work to study and evaluate uses for the empty properties is being funded by a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

Uses for the vacant lots could include community gardens or pop-up markets that would allow small businesses to connect with customers in a cost-effective way, Lawrence said. But it will be up to leaders and residents to put any plans in motion.

In addition to sharing and generating ideas, meeting participants will be asked what they’d like to see in their communities and given a framework as to how to move forward.

“We’re doing our job by getting these properties down,” Lawrence said. “The communities have got to buy into them.”

Some vacant lots will retain private ownership after demolition, but various county and municipal entities could own a portion of the parcels. Lawrence said the land bank would consider working with anyone who has an idea for a property it controls.

So far, demolition is complete on 13 properties. Another 52 are either being actively demolished or crews are finishing work. One is out for bid, and 16 more are being prepared for bids. Officials have gotten consent for demolition of 12 properties, and another 457 are waiting to start the process, Lawrence said.