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Burned structure topic of meeting

By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The city mayor will conduct an informal meeting today with Sycamore Street residents concerned about a burned structure that has become an eyesore and a health hazard in the neighborhood. Mayor Judy Reed said those living near the 1107 Sycamore St. structure have expressed their desire to have the property demolished. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. in council chambers.

The home was destroyed in an Oct. 22 blaze that has been ruled as arson. Harvey Upton, the property owner, is charged with setting the fire.

“It’s in pretty deplorable condition,” Reed said in calling for the meeting. “We want to see if we can come up with some ideas as to how we can see that property is taken down.”

Councilman Bruce Jaynes, however, questioned the focus on a single structure when the city has not addressed others destroyed by arson-related fires.

“Why not have a meeting for all the properties and brainstorm how to raze all the properties instead of just one?” he said, adding that the former Comfort Corner Shoe Store had yet to be torn down since it was set afire.

The shuttered business, located at the intersection of South Pittsburgh Street and Fairview Avenue, was destroyed in a Feb. 2 fire that investigators have ruled as arson. No arrests have been made in the case.

Councilman Charles Matthews, who oversees the public health and safety department, said the city does not have funding to demolish any uninsured structures.

Several months ago, he said, a request was made that $30,000 be earmarked from the 2005 state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for demolition of blighted and unsafe properties, but the council instead approved other projects and declined to consider the matter.

“We still have a list of properties that have yet to be torn down,” said Matthews. “I wish we had the money to tear down a lot of properties.

“I understand the concerns of the Sycamore Street residents. They are going to come in here and ask that (the city) tear it down, but there is no money in a demolition fund.”

Reed said she was unaware the funding had not been set aside in the CDBG program for demolition projects, although she voted to approve the application that designated the projects to be completed with the grant money.

“I knew it was to be in there. It had been requested (by the health department),” Reed said. “I don’t miss too many things, but I apparently missed this one.”

Jaynes suggested that the proceeds the city realized from the sale of a home at 203 W. Washington Ave. be set aside for razing blighted structures to enhance the neighborhoods.

The city purchased the home last year through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Good Neighbor Policy Dollar Homes and then sold the property and recouped nearly $50,000.

Reed, however, indicated she did not favor using the funds for razing properties.

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