Continuing their fight against blight, Pottsville officials asked Schuylkill County Court on Tuesday to allow them to assume ownership of what they term a dangerous and dilapidated building.
In a five-page petition, the city alleged 1620 Mahantongo St., which is owned by Kyle Donton, Mechanicsville, is unfit for human habitation and a danger to surrounding properties and their owners and residents.
"Pottsville is threatened with immediate and irreparable harm because (Donton) continues to allow the Premises to deteriorate to the detriment of the health and welfare of the surrounding property owners as well as other residents," the petition reads in part.
The city asked the court to appoint it as the conservator of the property under the state Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act, thereby allowing it to demolish, renovate or sell it as it sees fit.
Tuesday's petition is the second the city has filed in less than a week against the owner of an allegedly blighted property. On Friday, it asked the county court to appoint it conservator of 817-819 W. Market St.; that petition is still under consideration.
Pottsville is one of several local municipalities that is using the act to try to combat the widespread problem of dilapidated properties. The most notable use of the act in the county was by Foster Township to obtain and later sell the former James Neale mansion in Buck Run.
In its petition, the city alleged 1620 Mahantongo St. has not been legally occupied for at least a year and is showing the signs of such abandonment.
"The structure is damaged, decayed and dilapidated," the petition reads in part.
The building's exterior is neglected, with downspouts, drains and gutters that are in disrepair, according to the petition.
Furthermore, the city had to remove a dead tree from the grounds, which also have high weeds, grass and plant growth, plus standing water on them, the petition reads in part.
Because of its condition, the building is a fire hazard, subject to unauthorized entry, an attractive nuisance to children and depresses the value of surrounding properties, according to the petition.
"(Donton) has failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to remedy appearance or the condition" of the property, the petition reads in part.
Because of these factors, the city alleged the only solution is to name it the conservator to try to find a buyer who will bring the building up to code, which could cost more than $60,000, according to the petition.