Nov 23, 2012 2 min read

The Redevelopment Authority of Washington County has cleared the way to clear the way for three new homes in Washington.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the board passed a resolution to purchase three parcels on Summerlea Avenue. Six houses that are in foreclosure with Slovenian Savings & Loan are to be demolished after some financial issues are resolved, and three houses will be built there.

The meeting, at the PONY International Headquarters in North Franklin Township, was conducted before members of the 2012 class of Leadership Washington County, to show a governmental body in action. The young audience also shared in a banner day for the board.

Brian Maher and Dave Duessel, from the Pittsburgh accounting firm Maher and Duessel, arrived late because of an accident on Interstate 79 near Southpointe. After the duo settled in, they presented their audit report for the fiscal year that ended June 30 and gave the authority a “clean audit.”

The authority and the Washington County commissioners will be honored again for their housing endeavors. On Dec. 4, at a conference in Harrisburg, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania will present a Homegrown Pennsylvania award to the board for its work on supporting affordable and accessible housing.

It is related to the construction of a fully accessible home on Grace Avenue in Canonsburg. The single-level home was built through the efforts of the authority in partnership with Accessible Dreams, an affiliate organization of Washington’s Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living.

All three members of the Liadis family, who moved in this fall, have disabilities.

“It’s a nice award to get,” said Bill McGowen, executive director of the redevelopment authority. “We’ve gotten awards for elderly housing facilities. This emphasis is on handicapped-accessible.”

Also Tuesday, McGowen announced that work has begun on “Hotel California” – the Hampton Inn & Suites in California Technology Park. It is expected to open next November.