Easton Will Crack Down on Blighted Properties

Between its caved-in roof, jungle of weeds and collection of abandoned cars, it would be tough to argue that the former Stewart Silk Co. building on South Side Easton isn't a blighted property.

Now, the city wants to make that .

On Aug. 24, the Stewart building will be one of eight properties Easton plans to put before its in hopes of having them declared blighted.

It's part of a larger effort announced Thursday by city officials hoping to whittle down its list of problem properties. They've identified 30 properties that are blighted or just on the cusp.

"Blighted properties are eyesores and safety hazards in almost every one of our neighborhoods," Mayor Sal Panto said at a news conference at city hall, where he said Easton wants to increase fines "to a level that is painful" for negligent property owners.

Surrounded by blown up photos of the buildings in question, Panto said the city will also update its vacant property ordinance, and try to hire another codes officer who'll deal solely with blight for their first three months on the job.

Panto and Councilman Roger Ruggles -- who plans to introduce vacant property legislation -- made it clear that they are only targeting properties that are both vacant and in bad shape, rather than well-maintained vacant buildings.

"We don't want to punish people who are working with us," Panto said.

"To me, it's about fairness," Ruggles said. It's unfair to ask residents city-wide to pay for constant property inspections and complaints, and unfair to ask residents who take care of their homes to live next to eyesores.

Panto pointed to one house on West Wilkes-Barre Street, next door to where his grandmother once lived. He recalled mowing the lawn for the woman who lived there, and the high standard she held for her property.

"She is rolling over in her grave," the mayor said.

Among the properties scheduled to go before the review committee later this month is the on the 600 block of Northampton Street, which the city has hoped to do something with for years.

The review committee's approval is the first step in a process that ends with the city's Redevelopment Authority taking over the properties. City officials said Thursday they'd rather see property owners simply sell these buildings -- or in a perfect world, fix them -- before it came to that point.

Also on the list: 501 Northampton St., which Panto said is one of the oldest residential buildings in the city, but has been in "absolutely horrible" shape for years.

Other properties include:

• 51 S. Warren St.
• 813 Ferry St.
• 373 Nesquehoning St.
• 814 Spruce St.
• 675 Pine St.

"There are a number of people on this last who have been on this list for decades," he said.

In addition to make changes on the city level , Panto said Easton will lobby for stronger state laws that make it easier for municipalities to crack down on blighted properties.

In fact, that might be the city's toughest battle. When asked why Easton has had some properties in this condition for so long -- in one case, -- Panto and others pointed to the lengthy court battles that have resulted from trying to get some of these properties up to code.