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PITTSBURGH – County Executive Rich Fitzgerald today announced that the county has awarded $1,463,100 in funding to support 24 applications and demolish 58 structures through the Act 152 Demolition Fund. This is the third year for which applications were accepted for funding through the program. The grants, averaging $60,963, were awarded with a particular emphasis on structures designated as “unsound” on the county’s real estate website and demolition clusters where structures were located in close proximity.
“The Act 152 funding has allowed us to help our municipalities across the county as they seek to clean up blight, develop properties, and make their communities better,” said Fitzgerald. “In its first three years, the Act 152 program has provided over $5.5 million in funding for demolitions, allowing municipalities to remove over 250 structures that were unsound. This investment in our boroughs, townships, and cities allows those local officials to begin moving forward on their own plans to revitalize their community.”
Fifty-six (56) applications were received by Allegheny County Economic Development in response to the notice issued earlier this year. The 56 applications, from 55 municipalities, requested $5,653,333 to demolish 239 structures. Applications also included requests for development related funding, including large scale, non-residential demolitions. The total awards account for 47% of the fund balance, with the remaining funds being dedicated for emergency applications, administration and, if unneeded, future funding rounds.
“This demolition funding is an important way to assist our municipalities in fighting blight in their communities,” said Council Member Bob Macey. “I was proud to be the sponsor of this legislation several years ago and am glad that we continue to be able to make these resources available in the county.”
While 31 applicants did not receive Act 152 funding, the department awarded an additional $452,922 in non-Act 152 funds to 12 applicants. Those awards will be used to demolish another 35 structures. This brings funding for demolition to $1,985,822 across all funding sources, which will allow for the demolition of 95 total structures.
Eligible applicants included municipalities, public authorities, councils of government (COGs), land banks and private developers. The program uses established blight conditions and focused on demolition of hazardous structures, site preparation for development projects, and multi-phase planning efforts. Applications were evaluated on several criteria including inclusion on existing demolition lists, community impact, and potential re-use of the property.
The program is a lead safe demolition program and was one of the first in the state. All residential structures demolished must use a wet-wet-wet technique in which the structure is wet down by the demolition contractor prior to, during, and after demolition. The contractor will also be responsible for positing the property to be demolished and notifying adjacent neighbors of the demolition.
A full list of the funded demolitions by municipality including number of structures and funding amount follows:
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