STEUBENVILLE - The Planning and Zoning Commission agreed Monday night to add 10 more dilapidated buildings to the demolition list and will ask City Council to approve legislation to take down the structures.
The property demolitions to be paid for with Community Development Block Grant funds include 615 N. Eleventh St., 625 N. Eleventh St., 1217 Claire St., 912 Main St., 914 Main St., 916 Main St, 1027 A Wilson Ave., 1027 B Wilson Ave., 208 N. Eighth St and 214 N. Eighth St.
Urban Projects Director Chris Petrossi said the first round of CDBG funded demolitions has been completed by Pusateri Excavating of East Liverpool.
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ON THE DEMOLITION LIST — The Steubenville Planning and Zoning Commission added 10 additional properties to the demolition list for this year, including the Safari Lounge and an adjacent building on North Eighth Street. - Dave Gossett
"The houses are down. They just need to clear the lots and plant grass on the sites," said Petrossi.
"The second round of CDBG demolition projects is ready to be advertised for bids pending completion of the asbestos assessments. And bids for five properties to be paid for with city funds have been awarded to the low bidders," Petrossi told the planning commission members.
In other business during the monthly meeting, the commission set a public hearing for the June 4 meeting to hear public comment on the proposed reprogramming of leftover CDBG funds.
"That money will allow us to pave South Sixth Street from where it meets South Fourth Street at the railroad bridge underpass to Slack Street," explained Petrossi.
The commission also held a second public hearing on the 2012 Consolidated Plan to determine what projects the allotted $568,403 will be used for.
"With the 16.1 percent cut in CDBG funding for 2012 we will really have to find our core projects. In the past those core projects have included housing rehabilitation for low- and moderate-income property owners, street improvements, parks and recreation improvements, fair housing administration as well as clearance and demolition projects," said Petrossi.
"Our needs are as much or more than ever. We have been through a downturn in our economy and have seen more foreclosures and abandoned houses. I will work on a tentative budget and the specific use of the CDBG funds for discussion at our next meeting," added Petrossi.
The commission met in executive session to discuss personnel following the regular meeting.
