(Advertisement)

Tube City Community Media Inc. is seeking freelance writers to help cover city council, news and feature stories in McKeesport, Duquesne, White Oak and the neighboring communities. High school and college students seeking work experience are encouraged to apply; we are willing to work with students who need credit toward class assignments. Please send cover letter, resume, two writing samples and the name of a reference (an employer, supervisor, teacher, etc. -- not a relative) to tubecitytiger@gmail.com.

To place your ad, email tubecitytiger@gmail.com.
Ads start at $1 per day, minimum seven days.

Blighted, Vacant Properties Can Be Acquired Through County Program

By Submitted Report
The Tube City Almanac
June 15, 2017
Posted in: Announcements

Applications are now being accepted from homeowners, businesses and others who want to acquire vacant lots and blighted structures in 69 municipalities in Allegheny County.
 
The county's Side Yard and Blighted Structure Program enables property owners to acquire abandoned buildings and lots at a discounted cost.
 

It's available in 50 municipalities, including --- in the Mon-Yough Area --- Braddock Hills, Dravosburg, East McKeesport, Elizabeth Twp., Forward Twp., Liberty Borough, Munhall, North Versailles Twp., South Versailles Twp. (Coulter), Turtle Creek, Versailles, West Homestead, West Mifflin, White Oak and Wilkins Twp.

Applications must be postmarked no later than Aug. 31. Up to 60 applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis with only five applications accepted per municipality in order to ensure that all may participate.

Funding for the program is provided through federal Community Development Block Grant funds, county general funds and applicant payments towards acquisition costs.

Similar discounts are also available in 19 other communities that participate in the county's Vacant Property Recovery Program, including Braddock, Clairton, East Pittsburgh, Glassport, Homestead, North Braddock, Pitcairn, Rankin, Wall, Wilmerding.

“The Vacant Property Recovery Program helps neighbors and municipalities by helping to take vacant, blighted properties and put them back into use as side yards, other development or even as parks and green space,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Fitzgerald said the effort "improves the safety of neighborhoods, eliminates maintenance costs to municipalities, and encourages community reinvestment.”

In 2015 and 2016, the program received 620 applications, accepted 246 properties and conveyed 164 properties to new owners.

"Based on the number of applications over the past two years, there is real demand for the program,” said Robert Hurley, director of economic development for Allegheny County. “We know that communities which take advantage of the program for their residents see a significant improvement in those neighborhoods where the vacant property is converted. Our hope is that even more municipalities join the program moving forward.”

Applicants must be current on taxes, water, sewage and refuse bills on all properties owned in Allegheny County. Applicants may not have any outstanding code violations or municipal liens on any properties.

For additional information, or to request an application, call (412) 350-1090 or visit the website at bit.ly/2017SideYd.

Originally published June 15, 2017.

In other news:
"Corpus Christi Gets R…" || "Ohiopyle, Keystone Pa…"