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Judge grants conservatorship for blighted 82 Belvedere; Crafton to assess repairs and seek contractor estimates
Summary
A judge awarded conservatorship over 82 Belvedere to Crafton Borough, which plans an RFQ for contractor cost estimates, exterior cleanup and an initial inspection to determine whether repair or demolition is appropriate and to return the property to the tax rolls.
A judge granted Crafton Borough conservatorship over the long-abandoned property at 82 Belvedere, allowing borough staff to enter, secure and remediate the home with a goal of returning it to the tax rolls.
At the April 10 meeting the Community and Economic Development chair reported the judge approved the borough’s improvement plan and the written order is forthcoming. The plan calls for the borough to publish a request for qualifications (RFQ) for general contractors to produce cost estimates for repairs. The borough will also begin exterior cleanup, including mowing, and a staff-and-expert walkthrough of the building to document immediate needs.
Council members said the conservatorship was an alternative to demolition where feasible. The presenter noted the borough had identified a roughly $600,000 lien attached to the property that would have made sale unlikely; conservatorship clears such clouds on the title so the borough can pursue rehabilitation and sale to recover invested costs.
The borough expects to seek a responsible owner after repairs and to place the property back on the tax rolls; staff and a small team including the building inspector and Gateway Engineers will assess whether the house is structurally worth saving or whether demolition is the appropriate remedy. If the structure proves beyond practical repair, demolition remains an option.
Staff said the immediate next steps are: secure the judge’s written order; publish the RFQ for contractor cost estimates; perform exterior cleanup; and perform a building walkthrough with inspectors and engineers to develop a prioritized list of improvements. Councilors told staff they would provide updates in forthcoming meetings and committee sessions.
