Pocono News Section

Coal Region Towns Applying for Grant Money to Fix Up Old Buildings

Coal Region Towns Applying for Grant Money to Fix Up Old Buildings - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 3:37PM EST

SHAMOKIN, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY- Rundown properties in part of southern Northumberland County may soon be coming back to life. County leaders are applying for state money to fix up the buildings.

Rundown buildings like this one in downtown Shamokin are common. But officials hope, not for long. “One home in an area brings down the property values for the whole area, so we want to take that property, renovate it, do home ownership with it and get it back on the tax rolls," said Edward Christiano with the Northumberland County Housing Authority.

That could happen in Shamokin, Coal Township and Mt. Carmel if the state gives county leaders grant money. Homeowners say it’s desperately needed. Jennifer Caufield of Shamokin said, “When you drive around, its a beautiful place, then you see a lot of places that are rundown and not taken care of and it kind of takes from the whole feel of the area..."

Officials say rundown properties are also a safety concern. Last year at least one building in Mount Carmel collapsed. Money now could prevent scenes like this.

Shamokin Code Enforcement Officer Barry Stoud said, When you have had buildings that are deteriorating to the point you can't fix them, then its bad, well, these buildings are not, they're at a point where they could be corrected right now."

Terry Weidner is renovating a rundown property in Shamokin right now. “When it was empty, there was kids running in and out of it all the time, destroying the interior and stuff like that. The cops were called here many times," said Weidner.

Between the three communities, Shamokin, Coal Township and Mount Carmel, a total of 30 properties could be rehabbed if the state money comes through. If it does, homeowners say it would have more people take pride in their communities. “It’s kind of monkey see, monkey do. If one person does it, the rest usually follow," said Caufield.