PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Problem properties are in virtually every community in the nation. One Luzerne County community is taking a proactive stance on these properties.
The open field on Prospect Place with the excavator is where a longtime blighted property once stood.
It was torn down last week, and it's not the first blighted property to meet the "wrecking ball," and according to Mayor Mike Lombardo, it won't be the last unless property owners do the right thing.
"I've been staring at it for 10 years now, and I was happy to see it go. I understand there were a lot of problems with it, but glad to see it go," Morgan's Butcher Shop John Morgan said.
John Morgan owns a butcher shop across the street from the blighted property. He and neighbors tell 28/22 News they were happy to see it torn down.
Photos were taken by Pittson city officials on Friday when the longtime problem property met its end.
"This property had two decades of issues, it has transferred ownership multiple times. What it got to at this point, what I would call the last straw," Mayor Lombardo explained.
Mayor Mike Lombardo says the most recent owner is facing some $17,000 in fines related to health and code violations and did not appear at a district court hearing last week to try to resolve the problem.
"It's not a decision that's easily made. We weigh very seriously not only from the impact it had on the neighborhood but also the impact, you know the legal system. We always want to make sure that we give the owner of the property due process and do the things we are supposed to do, and that's what happened in this case," Mayor Lombardo added.
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This is not the first blighted property the city has razed. The problem property on North Main Street was taken down two years ago when the mayor says the owner refused to repair or even demolish the property.
All totaled, five problem properties met with the wrecking ball.
"When you talk about fairness, it's a two-way street, right? It's the owner of the property we want to be fair to him or her, but also look, and there are a bunch of homes that flank this property. What about fairness to this neighborhood? What about regard to the neighborhood?" Mayor Lombardo continued.
Mayor Lombardo, who is very active in the Pennsylvania and National League of Cities, tells 28/22 News that mayors from around the nation are paying close attention and taking notes, saying this approach might be used in their communities.
The I-Team reached out to the owner of this property and has not heard back.
