Blight Fight Shifting to Rehab
One Community Update
February 17, 2024
Source: altoonamirror.com
When Steve Karns of 21st Avenue in Fairview heard that the city planned to tear down a long-derelict house across from his home as part of its blighted property demolition program, he was encouraged.
When Karns subsequently learned that the city instead planned to renovate the house as part of a new program designed to get away from demolition and the creation of vacant lots that generate little tax revenue, Karns was skeptical because the house has deteriorated so badly and seemed too costly to fix.
Karns was still skeptical on Friday, but he became more receptive after learning that the city doesn’t necessarily need to be in the black after such projects, which involve acquisition, clearing the title, removing trash, hiring a contractor, supervising the renovation, then marketing and selling the property.
“I hope they can do it,” he said. “(But) we’ll see.”
After many months of discussion and preparatory efforts, the Redevelopment Authority/Land Bank board this week launched the program by advertising for contractor bids on the renovation of the house, which is on the corner of 21st Avenue and 14th Street.
There’s a pre-bid conference at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 at the house, and bids are due by 10 a.m. March 13 at the city’s Community Development Department in City Hall.
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