Multi-community project finds little blight in West Leechburg

West Leechburg is in better shape than a lot of communities when it comes to blight.

In the second phase of a multi-community blight study, the borough has only three properties considered to be blighted.

The study is led by the Westmoreland County Planning Department with help from the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority, the county land bank and the state Local Government Academy.

“Those two entities have provided funds,” said Victoria Baur, assistant deputy director of Westmoreland County Planning. “The redevelopment authority covered costs that helped offset the costs for the participating communities in the joint project.”

She said, in addition to the Local Government Academy’s financial contribution, the group will provide technical assistance to incorporate a market-based analysis and recommendations for key properties, which will be incorporated into the blight plan. The study also includes an online mapping tool of blighted properties and establishes a task force to find solutions to eliminate blight.

The study began in October 2023. During its first phase, Baur said she and members of the county’s planning department inventoried more than 20,000 parcels across seven of the eight communities that make up the Alle-Kiski Intergovernmental Council. Those communities are Allegheny Township, Arnold, East Vandergrift, Lower Burrell, New Kensington, Vandergrift and West Leechburg. Upper Burrell is not participating in the study, Baur said.

“Compared to other municipalities that have a much higher percentage of blight in their towns, we’re in pretty good shape,” said West Leechburg Secretary Kayla Visnovsky.

Visnovsky said the problem properties in the borough are already being worked on, but the county is offering assistance to the owners to help improve the state of their structures.

West Leechburg Councilwoman Christina Hosler said the low number of blighted properties is not a surprise.

“They did identify some (properties) that were in fair or poor conditions that could be upgraded,” Hosler said.

Hosler and Visnovsky have been serving as liaisons between the county and the borough during the study.

Hosler said knowing the council can reach out to other communities and that help is out there if they need it has been a valuable takeaway from this experience.

“This has been a really beneficial experience for the borough,” Hosler said. “It’s been a good experience with good people, and I think it will be really helpful for the borough.”

Baur said the plan should be released to the public this spring.