Feb 15, 2017 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – The Greene County Redevelopment Authority wants to tear down two houses on Nazer Street in Waynesburg, and they want the borough’s help to fund the project.

David Calvario, with the Redevelopment Authority, asked Waynesburg Borough Council during its Monday night meeting to split the cost of tearing down the buildings, which could be between $20,000 and $24,000, he said.

“It takes a team approach when you do this type of work,” Calvario said.

The neighboring houses, at 343 and 355 Nazer St., sit just behind the new Gateway Senior Housing facility on High Street.

“We’re just trying to clean up that area now that the new complex came in,” Calvario said.

The taxes on the houses, which were built around 1920, according to the Greene County Assessor’s Office, have not been paid since 2011 and 2012, and both are listed in the proposed judicial sale for this year.

The house at 343 Nazer has been vacant for two years, Calvario said. It’s valued at about $21,000 and was last owned by Sarah Rush, according to the assessor’s office.

“From my understanding, she may have passed away as much as 20 years ago,” Waynesburg Borough manager Mike Simms said. “There are some family members, but no one has claimed it and taxes haven’t been paid on it for years.”

The second house, 355 Nazer St., is still occupied by the owners, Calvario said. According to the assessor’s office, the house is valued at $23,000 and owned by Thomas Toland. Calvario said the Redevelopment Authority is working with the family to find other housing options.

Calvario said after the buildings come down, either a gravel lot will go there or a green space.

He said PIRHL Development has pledged $4,000 to tearing the buildings down, and Calvario asked the borough council to split the rest of the cost by half. The borough solicitor, Christopher Simms, said at the meeting the council would need a few weeks to look into the cost and determine what is best for the community.