County begins demolition program with Porter Township High School

Emily Graham, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·3 min read

Mar. 6—TOWER CITY — More money brings more constructive destruction.

The county recently began a second round of demolitions, starting with the former Porter Township High School.

At a meeting on site Friday, County Administrator Gary R. Bender said, through the support of state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township, the county received $2 million in demolition funding from the Department of Community and Economic Development. Bender, Argall, state Rep. Joe Kerwin, R-125, Lykens, and the county commissioners met at the former school to discuss plans for the demolition and development of the area.

"The goal here in Porter Township is to put a regional fire company here to consolidate at least three of our fire companies," Bender said.

Bender said the proposed use of the space is to build a new fire company building, but consolidation plans are still in discussion. Bender, who has been a Porter Township supervisor since 2000, said the demolition began Tuesday and will be finished in a few weeks.

"It's been a work in progress for about 10 years," Bender said.

In 2017, the county received $1.4 million in demolition funding. Argall said the county took down between 60 and 80 properties in the first round of demolition, so the extra $2 million should allow it to accomplish more.

"There are sites like this all over the county," he said. "What we've learned is something like this can really hurt the entire neighborhood, from crime, property values, insurance costs."

One demolition completed during the first round was the former American Legion building in Minersville and replacing it with a veterans memorial park.

"For the veterans, it meant something for them," Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. said. "When the veterans park was put in place, that meant the world to them, because they have a good place to gather and make their community better."

Halcovage said removing the Porter Township building will make the surrounding area, especially the nearby sports fields, safer for the community.

"It's public safety that they are doing here," Halcovage said. "That's the future of what this location is. Gary Bender believes, as we all do, in the future of Schuylkill County."

Ron Zimmerman, county grants manager, and Cheryl Fuss, compliance officer, have been evaluating other sites throughout the county for possible demolition. Zimmerman said they have seen at least 100 properties so far.

"We're going to advertise nine properties next week and the week after," Zimmerman said. "The next group is going to be in Port Carbon, Palo Alto, Saint Clair and Orwigsburg. We're looking at other ones, but they're the ones that are ready to go."

The projects will range from buildings like the Porter Township High School to fire-damaged homes, all with the purpose of improving property values and quality of life in the communities.

"It's not just about making things look nicer," Argall said. "It's about jobs, economic development and getting them back on the tax list."

Bender said the amount of money the county has received this year will allow it to make major improvements.

"For years, the county had about $75,000, and each year we would do that much demolition, but it wouldn't scratch the surface," Bender said. "Now we can really begin to make a difference."