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<\/p>\nScranton aims to acquire and rehabilitate a blighted house at 25 New York St. through a legal step called a conservatorship.<\/p>\n
The city for years had considered using a state conservatorship law that gives municipalities a condemnation avenue in the court system as a tool to fight blight.\n<\/p>\n
Now, the Scranton Redevelopment Authority filed a petition in Lackawanna County Court for the SRA to be designated as the conservator of a vacant house at 25 New York St. that has been condemned since 2023 and apparently abandoned, according to the petition.<\/p>\n
Filed Dec. 30, the conservatorship petition appears to be the first one pursued by the city, at least in many years. Efforts were unsuccessful Wednesday to obtain from the city more information about the petition. But it follows an ordinance enacted in July by the administration of Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and Scranton City Council to give the city more ability to respond to blight.<\/p>\n
That ordinance established a \u201cBlighted Property Review Committee\u201d to review and determine if a property is blighted, and if so, issue a certification to the Scranton Redevelopment Authority. Such a certification would assist the authority in pursuing eminent domain under the Urban Redevelopment Law. That ordinance described the Scranton Redevelopment Authority\u2019s power of eminent domain as a blight-fighting tool.<\/p>\n
The conservatorship petition, which also cites the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act, seeks court approval for the SRA to \u201ctake possession of and undertake a rehabilitation\u201d of the property at 25 New York St.<\/p>\n
Other details in the petition include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lienholders in the property include the city of Scranton, the Scranton Sewer Authority and the former Wachovia Bank; and it is not subject to an existing foreclosure action. The bank, which is the highest lienholder, does not have any interest in serving as the conservator.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Condemned since Aug. 23, 2023, the house has been vacant and not legally occupied for at least the prior year; nor has it been actively marketed for sale. A city exterior inspection in October determined the property can be rehabilitated, as there was no evidence of structural movement or problems, and the walls, roof and chimney appeared to be undamaged.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cFor years, the property has been the subject of several complaints, including high weeds, grass or plant growth that blocks the sidewalk for pedestrians;\u201d the property is \u201cunfit for human habitation\u201d due to its vacancy with no utilities; it increases the risk of fire to it and adjacent properties; and it\u2019s a nuisance that could attract children.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cThe dilapidated appearance and condition of the property negatively affect the economic well-being of residents and businesses in close proximity, including decreases in property values.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 The SRA has the financial resources from the city to rehabilitate the building, but it also cannot estimate the total cost because the inspection was limited to the exterior. If appointed as conservator, the SRA would then provide a more detailed plan for rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s website says the SRA, guided by the Urban Redevelopment Law, \u201ctakes a proactive stance against blight\u201d by initiating \u201ctransformative processes, bringing properties back to code compliance and providing the community with safe and sustainable housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
A judge has not yet acted upon the petition, according to the court docket.<\/p>\n
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A blighted property sits condemned at 25 New York St. in Scranton Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG \/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n
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A blighted property sits condemned at 25 New York St. in Scranton Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG \/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n
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A blighted property sits condemned at 25 New York St. in Scranton Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG \/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)\n<\/p>\n