Program to eliminate blight comes to New Kensington and Arnold

ARNOLD, Pa. (KDKA) — A method to reduce blighted buildings in Westmoreland County is coming to New Kensington and Arnold.

Equally communities are now poised to be part of the Westmoreland County Land Lender.

“This is a premier road and to have this type of blight is devastating,” house owner Edwin Jarnagin claimed. 

“Throughout the road, there is a bunch, there is various on this block and all over the city,” said Shawn Whalen, the owner of Whalen Contracting. 

Began in 2013 and carried out in other destinations like Greensburg, the Westmoreland County Land Financial institution has witnessed numerous a person-time derelict structures develop into tax-building home once again. 

“We have in between 85 and 100 blighted homes in Arnold,” Councilman George Hawson mentioned. “That’s a large amount considering we’re 1 square mile.”         

Whalen is a 3rd-technology Arnold business operator. He understands very first-hand what can increase from the soil of previous blighted buildings.

“When we built our headquarters listed here, it was just leveled floor that had been delipidated properties,” Whalen stated.

He mentioned if you amount the eyesores, revenue will follow.

“Deliver more company in below, provide additional employment to the location, revitalize the location,” Whalen mentioned.

Meanwhile, Jarnagin life future to a vacant property with an overgrown lawn with no utilities to it. He included that he hopes the plan rolls bulldozers on the block sooner than later on.

“It just usually takes down the residence value and the beautification of the block,” he claimed.