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The City of Monessen has adopted a new set of Ordinances that puts procedures in place for the City to declare a vacant property a nuisance.

In the new set of Ordinances, the city will be able to declare a property a nuisance, due to safety issues, pertaining to property maintenance. The City has also opted into the state's law, Act 90 of 2010, which allows for asset forfeiture.

In this new Ordinance, after exhausting all other avenues, the City of Monessen will be able to lien property (including homes and vehicles) and garnish wages of property owners who are leaving vacant properties to deteriorate. Mayor Matt Shorraw says that if the City has to repair or demolish a structure owned by someone who refuses to comply, the City now has the full legal jurisdiction to ensure that the property owner covers the financial cost of the demolitions.

“There are people in Monessen who are living in nice houses but seem to intentionally let other properties they own sit and rot. The City has to foot the bill. This will no longer be the case," said Mayor Shorraw.

This is one of many new Ordinances the City has adopted and plans to enforce pertaining to blight - as the City cracks down on property owners who refuse to clean their properties.

Additionally, in the City's strategy for addressing blight, Monessen has seen an increase of interest in people acquiring vacant properties - either through their tax forgiveness program or through other means. If you are interested in acquiring a vacant house, or if you own a vacant house in Monessen that you are interested in finding a new owner for, you may contact City Hall.

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