Borough seeks funds to demolish structures in Hunter Park

Wilkinsburg is trying to get grant funding to demolish structures in its Hunter Parkneighborhood.

“This declares a number of structures to meet the definition of ‘ slums and blight,’” council President Patrick Shattuck said of the resolution council approved Nov. 8.

The Hunter Park area is“already in an identified redevelopment target area,” he said.

The borough is applying for 2018 Community Development Block Grant funds to demolish a number of structures in the area. A specific number was not announced at the meeting.

In other matters, Mr. Shattuck said council must appoint someone to fill council Vice President Marita Garrett’s seat. Ms. Garrett was elected mayor of Wilkinsburg in the Nov. 7 election and also won a seaton council. The matter will be discussed and the seat is expected to be filled at the Jan .2 reorganization meeting, Mr. Shattuck said.

Council accepted a $260,000Green Grant from the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority to repair leaking sewer lines in the borough.

At the request of residents in the area, council approved designating the 700 block of Pitt Street for residential permit parking. The 500 and 600 block of that street already has permit parking.

Council approved signingon to a letter drafted by a group called Pittsburghers for Public Transit opposing the use of armed fare enforcement officers. The Port Authority plans touse armed officers to enforce fare payment when the light-rail system goes cashless next year.