Erie redevelopment authority rescinds blight on two properties, declares blight on several others

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Erie voted unanimously at its monthly meeting to remove two properties from the city's blight list and to declare several other properties blighted, clearing the way for demolition or further enforcement.

The authority's secretary reported: "All right. So currently we have 277 blighted properties on the blighted property list. 28 of those are under the ownership of the Land Bank or the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Erie," and said two declarations of taking and two deeds in lieu of condemnation were recently filed and approved.

The authority removed blight designations for two properties after officials said one was fully rehabilitated and permitted and another had been demolished following acquisition. Staff displayed photographs of the properties during the meeting and said the rehabilitated property had new roofing, repaired plaster, refinished floors and passed plumbing and electrical inspections; staff described it as a two-unit rental.

Members then moved through new-business items, hearing staff accounts of multiple privately owned properties where repeated notices, unpaid taxes and utilities shutoffs prompted requests for formal blight declarations. Staff described one long, narrow vacant structure with a damaged roof and a fallen tree that had received multiple notices and no owner response; another property had been bought at a 2020 tax sale and currently owed about $8,500 in back taxes, had an open second-floor porch door and evidence of interior demolition. A separate property presented to the board had an interior fire in September 2023 and has been vacant; staff said Erie Water Works had reported no active water service at that address since 2017.

Board members approved motions to declare blight on each property presented. For several of the properties, staff reported multiple prior code cases (ranging from three to six instances) and repeated notices and citations that drew no corrective action from owners. In one instance staff said a rehabilitation lien remained on a property conveyed to an asset-management company, and in another a property owner is incarcerated and has not responded to notices.

The board also moved to declare a property at 210 East 20 Second Street blighted; staff said the current owner bought it at a 2020 tax sale, is overdue on taxes back to 2022, and that water service to the storefront is active while other utilities were inactive. The authority approved a separate blight declaration for 921 West 26 (listed in the packet as 921 West 26th) after staff told members the owner is deceased, occupants are squatting, the property is subject to ongoing code enforcement and a citation has been filed.

All motions to declare or rescind blight were approved by voice vote; members present responded "aye" to each motion. The meeting concluded after members adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes: motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Rescind blight (two properties): motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). Staff said one removed property had been privately rehabilitated and passed inspections; the other had been demolished after authority acquisition. - Declare blight (address not fully specified in transcript; long vacant, unsecure structure with roof damage and fallen tree): motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Declare blight, 210 East 20 Second Street: motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). Staff reported the owner owes roughly $8,500 in back taxes and the property has had multiple code cases. - Declare blight (property with interior fire in Sept. 2023; vacant; utilities inactive): motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). - Declare blight, 921 West 26 (packet listed as 921 West 26th): motion approved by voice vote (unanimous). Staff said the owner is deceased and occupants are squatting.

The authority's actions place the newly blighted properties under the agency's enforcement processes, which can include demolition, liens, or disposition through the Land Bank; staff and members discussed prior liens and past court or foreclosure activity but did not vote on demolition specifics at this meeting.

The board adjourned after routine closing motions.