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The fight against blight in the City of Bradford continues as three more unsightly and unsafe buildings are slated for demolition. Bradford City Council on Tuesday accepted quotes from Tom Vickery for the demolition of 177 Williams St., 13 East Main St., and 26 East Ave., for $5,454, $2,454 and $5,454 respectively. To hear more from last night's city council meeting go here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bradford City Council on Tuesday approved resolutions dealing with some of the most talked-about problems in the city -- road conditions, dilapidated properties and bad behavior in the downtown area. Council ~~ also approved, on first reading, an ordinance that would allow shoppers to park longer at metered spots on Kennedy Street. Council has to approve the ordinance a second time, presumably on May 14, before it goes into effect. ~~ agreed to advertise for services to install a security and video surveillance system downtown. Private donations are paying for the system. ~~ approved the demolition of three blighted properties: 57 Amm Street, 179 High Street and 44 Willard Avenue. Mayor Tom Riel said, "It's about time," regarding the demolition on Willard. Councilman Fred Proper seconded the resolution "with pleasure." The money for the demolition comes from the CDBG fund. ~~ agreed to advertise for bidders to work on resurfacing eight city streets, inclu...

HARRISBURG - Speaking to a packed room at Temple University's Harrisburg Campus, Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill) announced he will reconvene the Pa. Blight Task Force in an effort to continue the fight against blight and abandonment. "The recent passage of land bank legislation has assisted the ongoing efforts to fight blight," said Argall, who spoke at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania's Homes Within Reach Conference. "We have achieved considerable progress by giving our local governments more power to fight blight through land bank legislation as well as Act 90, the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act." The Blight Task Force was established by Argall's predecessor, the late Sen. Jim Rhoades. The group was responsible for crafting Argall's Senate Bill 900 of 2009, now Act 90. During the event at Temple some people suggested a tax on slumlords. "So, we’re going to be looking at that one," Argall said. ...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director The City of Bradford has come up with a new battle plan in its fight against blight. Instead of demolishing only a handful of properties this year, they’re going to go after many more by, as OECD director Sara Andrews said, getting more bang for their buck. She explained that every year $30,000 of Community Development Block Grant money is set aside for demolition. But this year, they are going take out a loan for $150,000 and pay back the loan with the CDBG money. Andrews said she checked with the state Department of Community and Economic Development and they said using the money that way would be fine. City Council on Tuesday authorized OECD to send letters to lending institutions in an effort to secure the loan. She said Councilman Rhett Kennedy has complied of list of 56 properties that need to be demolished, and that list is growing. She added that they are in the process of getting the “legal end of things” tied up so they can secure the ...

HARRISBURG – Senator David G. Argall (R-29) joined colleagues from both the Senate and House Urban Affairs and Housing Committees at a press conference today to highlight a new anti-blight law that went into effect Monday. "Act 90 is now in effect throughout Pennsylvania. I am thankful so many organizations and associations are stepping up to communicate and educate the message to borough officials, code enforcement officers, magisterial judges and other interested parties about the Neighborhood Blight Revitalization and Reclamation Act," said Senator Argall. "We have strengthened current law to identify property owners of blighted buildings and hold them responsible for the costs to rehabilitate or demolish these structures. The priority now is to get the information out to those fighting blight in their communities." The Neighborhood Blight Revitalization and Reclamation Act aids the effort for local communities throughout Pennsylvania to fight blight and repai...

Senator David Argall (R-29) holds a news conference on efforts to educate the public and local elected officials about the state's new anti-blight law. He is joined by Elizabeth Hersh of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Minersville Borough Infrastructure Manager Joe Bass, Gary Bender of the Schuylkill County Demolition Program and Jeff Feeser of Schuylkill Community Action. Senate Bill 900, known as the Neighborhood Blight Revitalization and Reclamation Act, clarifies the identity of property owners and holds them responsible for the municipal costs to secure, remediate or demolish blighted structures. Municipalities may institute an action to prevent, restrain, correct or abate property code violations. For more information go here: http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/blight-bill-becomes-law.html Photo provided by Senate Republican Communications

HARRISBURG – Legislation to fight blight and repair or demolish dilapidated properties has been signed into law today, according to State Senator David G. Argall (R-29), the prime sponsor. Senate Bill 900, known as the Neighborhood Blight Revitalization and Reclamation Act, passed the House and Senate earlier this month. The measure clarifies the identity of property owners and holds them responsible for the municipal costs to secure, remediate or demolish blighted structures. Municipalities may institute an action to prevent, restrain, correct or abate property code violations. "My goal was to see this important bipartisan bill signed into law this session," said Argall. "This is a major victory for municipalities throughout Pennsylvania who have been impacted by abandoned or dilapidated properties. These eyesores leave a black mark on our communities that many times are difficult to eliminate," Argall added. "The Statewide Blight Task Force, my colleagues ...

http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/blight-bill-passes-senate.html http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/lawmakers-hear-testimony-on-blight.html http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/renaissance-city-plan-for-pa.html http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/committee-approves-blight-bill.html