Swissvale Council Continues Revitalization Efforts

Swissvale Council is focused on continuing revitalization efforts through code enforcement, demolition and the rebuilding of deserted lots through a number of proposed grants which moved forward Wednesday night.

With the code enforcement of Swissvale Fire Chief Clyde Wilhelm, along with a partnership with the Mon Valley Initiative, council is cracking down on blighted properties in the borough and cleaning up lots that once housed nuisance bars or abandoned homes.

During Wednesday’s regular council meeting, the following resolutions were approved:

• A gift of properties to the borough from the Mon Valley Initiative located at 7400 Park Ave., a lot at Monongahela Avenue, 2031 Monongahela Ave., 2049 Monongahela Ave., and 2051 Monongahela Ave.
• The acquisition and disposition of parcels of vacant properties under the Allegheny County Vacant Property program.
• A grant application for the rehabilitation of Memorial Park - phase two
• A grant application for the demolition of 7436 Washington Ave.
• A grant application for the Safe Neighborhood Demolition grant, which would target eight different sites identified by Wilhelm.
• A resolution for the Slums and Blight Resolution of several vacant and dilapidated structures in Swissvale.

Mayor Deneen Swartzwelder applauded the recent success of the , which showcased homes rehabilitated with the Mon Valley Initiative in the .

So far, 17 houses have been completed in the neighborhood, with 10 already sold.

Three of the four included in the Madonna Del Castello project are already under contract, she said.

In other news, the public works department is looking for a college student to help with work around the borough for the rest of the summer. The job pays $8 an hour. For more information, call the borough .