SUNBURY – Strategies to repair or demolish blighted buildings in communities large and small were reviewed with local leaders at a roundtable discussion of the Senate Majority Policy Committee chaired by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and hosted by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27) today.
“Blighted, decaying, rat-infested buildings can spread through a community like the plague, but fixing them can also be contagious,” said Argall. “I’ve seen it for myself in Jim Thorpe, Tamaqua, Hazleton, and beyond – the restoration or demolition of vacant eyesores drives up property values, encourages new employers to set up shop, and inspires further beautification of surrounding buildings.”
“Today’s roundtable discussion was an opportunity for entities from the 27th District to highlight success stories of tackling blight in their communities while also shedding light on the hurdles that hinder their progress and prevent them from fully addressing the issue,” said Culver. “I appreciate everyone coming together to have this conversation, and I thank Sen. Argall and the Majority Policy Committee for coming here to learn from our area as the committee works to develop solutions for combatting blight across the Commonwealth.”
Testifiers from Sunbury, Shamokin, Bloomsburg, and other communities focused on two major challenges for local officials – navigating code enforcement laws and securing adequate funding for demolition.
Many testifiers noted the capacity issues facing local code enforcement officers, who are tasked with holding negligent property owners accountable. The discussion also focused on the legal roadblocks facing officials aiming to demolish properties in active danger of collapsing.
Act 152 of 2016, a law written by Argall, was praised by testifiers as an innovative funding program that gave local communities much-needed funding to tear down blighted structures. Since this law was enacted, 26 counties across Pennsylvania have chosen to join the program, raising millions of dollars for demolition. Northumberland, Schuylkill, and Carbon counties have all joined.
“Addressing these problems takes strong partnerships between state and local officials and private citizens,” Argall said. “Hearing about the issues local people are grappling with helps us create more effective laws to tear down or repair even more blighted buildings. Meetings like this one have led to significant new laws in the past.”
Video of the full hearing and written testimony can be found on the Senate Majority Policy Committee’s website.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger (Argall)
Sam Clepper (Culver)