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Demo Contract OK’d on 20 Blighted Structures

Council postpones approval on self-storage business

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
July 08, 2025
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

McKeesport City Council has approved a contract to demolish another 20 blighted structures.

At this month’s meeting, council awarded a $319,500 bid for demolition/construction to Betters Company Inc. City officials said the list original had 35 buildings, but had to be trimmed down.

The contract includes demolition of houses on Abraham and Atcheson streets, one on Atlantic Avenue, four on Bailie Avenue, and properties on Butler, Craig, Erie, Freeland, Garbett, Huey and Jenny Lind streets; as well as units on Madison Avenue and two on Manor Avenue.

Also included are two on Maple Street, one on Shaw and two on Spring Street, and others on Stewart and Versailles Avenue, as well as Washington and three on Willow Street.

In other business, council tabled a request from Best Cars LLC to operate a self-storage until at 2225 Fifth Ave. because no one from the business showed up to the zoning meeting.

The location is the former East End School site.

Council unanimously approved a conditional use request for Jessica McCauley to operate health and fitness facility at 524 West Fifth Ave.. McCauley was at the workshop meeting and told council that “Flash Fitness” will feature kickboxing and other activities. She called it a “YMCA style” gym. When asked about parking conditions, McCauley said the property has select indoor parking, as well as other spots around the property.

Council unanimously approved an ordinance and two resolutions amending and supplementing police officers’ retirement pension plan, as well as the five-year consolidation plan and community development block grant program.

City officials said the retirement system ordinance was a minor change to fix misprinted information. The CDBG program redirects funds for a kid’s basketball court, a small pickleball court and other projects.

Council also awarded a $129,000 bid for Stephen Barry Field improvements. Plavchak Construction Co. of Elizabeth, which did work on Phase 1 at the park, was the low bidder. The money is from the city’s capital improvement fund.

Work will include underground electrical improvements that will not be implemented until after International Village, which is scheduled Aug. 12-14.

Originally published July 08, 2025.

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