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Residents and council press Scranton Redevelopment Authority for action on blight; councilor drafts vacant-property registration ordinance
Summary
Council members and residents pressed the Scranton Redevelopment Authority to show progress on blight, requested SRA attendance at caucus, and a councilor said a vacant-property registration ordinance has been drafted and submitted to the city attorney for review.
Residents and several council members used the public-comment period to press the Scranton Redevelopment Authority and city administration for action on blighted and vacant properties.
Council Member Schuster said he had requested SRA leadership attend caucus to explain progress on a vacant-properties review committee that was formed in 2024 but has shown limited visible results. City staff replied that invitations to the SRA director, the SRA board and the solicitor were extended for the next week’s caucus.
Schuster said the administration had provided an SRA-owned property list of about 47 parcels and asked staff to confirm whether that list is complete and to provide meeting minutes and attendance records for SRA meetings. City staff agreed to supply the requested records.
Separately, a council speaker said he had drafted an ordinance for vacant-property registration, delivered it to the city attorney and would share it with administration and fellow council members after legal review.
Council members said they want a clearer timetable for the SRA’s vacant-properties review committee and for administrative follow-up on maintenance of SRA lots and demolition candidates. No formal SRA actions were taken at the council meeting; the matter was discussed and signals were given that the SRA and administration will be asked to report back to caucus.
