Council OK’s House Demos, Park Improvements

$725K makeover slated for five playground areas

By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
July 12, 2022
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

The Becker House at 511 Romine Ave. is one of 27 slated for demolition in the city’s next phase of the “McKeesport Rising” program. (Tube City Almanac file photo)

McKeesport city council has awarded a contract for demolition of another 27 vacant houses, including a one-time landmark on Romine Avenue in upper 10th Ward.

Council also approved a $725,000 contract with Lutterman Excavating for renovations at five playgrounds, including Highland Grove, Fawcett Park, Chester Park, Sayfoot Park and Riverview Park.

Mike Betters Co., Inc., of Lincoln Borough was the lowest responsible bidder for Phase 8 of the McKeesport Rising vacant house demolition project, city officials said. The company bid $197,100 to demolish the abandoned homes, including seven on Ridge Street and another at 511 Romine Ave.

The once-grand Romine Avenue house, located at a sharp bend in the street just above West Fifth Avenue, is known as the Becker House. It was recognized as a regional historic landmark by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation in 1989.

Built in 1906, The Becker House was offered for sale in 2012 for $90,000, but found no takers, according to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

It was purchased out of foreclosure by a Clairton man in 2014, according to county tax records, but has stood vacant. Although an ornate porch once wrapped around the front two sides of the structure, much of it has now collapsed.

Other houses targeted for demolition under the contract awarded to Betters include:

622 Arlington Ave.
3008 Atcheson St.
3010 Atcheson St.
3016 Boyd St.
1605 Colfax St.
2901 Freeland St.
2902 Freeland St.
2904 Freeland St.
2908 Freeland St.
900 Lawndale St.
1609 Lawndale St.
1616 Lawndale St.
1435 Locust St.
1121 McCleary St.
3315 Oakland St.
812 Park St.
1100 Park St.
603 Ridge St.
604 Ridge St.
605 Ridge St.
715 Ridge St.
716 Ridge St.
717 Ridge St.
801 Ridge St.
1619 Shaw Ave.
326 Whigham St.

Five parklets to be renovated

Repairs and upgrades to five parks and playgrounds will be made with the assistance of federal Community Block Grant, or CDBG, funding, city officials said. Lutterman Excavating of Greensburg was the lowest responsible bidder on the McKeesport Satellite Park Restoration Project.

Work will include new fencing, new mulch beds, new benches, play equipment and other improvements at the parks, city officials said.

Sayfoot Park, located on Pacific Street in 10th Ward, will receive an extensive makeover that includes four new picnic tables — including two that are wheelchair accessible — a new parking area, a 24-by-24 foot pavilion and eight new trees, as well as 615-feet of new sidewalks.

Supply chain delays mean that the work likely will not get underway in time for the remainder of this summer, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said.

“We were hoping to be done this year, but supplies just were not available,” Cherepko said. “So we’re looking at early spring (2023) at the latest, but we will make sure every one of our parks has a makeover and that all of our kids have a safer place to play.”

A playground in Christy Park also is scheduled for repair and renovation, he said, but that work will be done under a separate contract using different funding.

Originally published July 12, 2022.

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