Yesterday, @repwatropa, Schuylkill County Commissioners Larry Padora and Gary Hess, and I joined Shenandoah Borough Council members to review the ongoing demolition of the former Martin Shirt Co. factory at East Poplar and South White streets. This demolition, which is much larger than many others, would not be possible without strong partnerships between state, county, and local officials.
Blight affects us all – it lowers our property values, it strains the real estate market, it hurts our schools, it breeds crime, and it poses a serious threat to our safety and well-being. Now that this vacant eyesore will soon be gone, the borough can return the property to productive use.
This building is just one of dozens of blighted and vacant properties torn down through Schuylkill County’s demolition program in recent years. In Shenandoah, county demolition funding was also used to tear down a row of fire-damaged homes on East Centre Street. In Minersville, the program was responsible for tearing down a large, vacant building on the property that ultimately became Veterans Memorial Park, a moving tribute to local members of our armed forces.
I’ve worked with Rep. Watro, Rep. Jamie Barton, Rep. JoAnne Stehr, and Rep. Tim Twardzik to secure almost $5 million in state grants to support this key program.
Pictured here, from left to right: Shenandoah Borough Council members Joe Gawrylik, Joe Boris, Diane Korenda, Boro Secretary Mike Cadau, Mike Uholick, Rep. Dane Watro, me, and Schuylkill County Commissioners Larry Padora and Gary Hess.