ST. ALBANS, WV – The City of St. Albans Building & Zoning Department has been given the green light from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to further its initiative of demolishing abandoned and dilapidated structures under the Ready. Set. Demo., a statewide program to help communities remove unsightly and unsafe dilapidated structures.
In a recent letter addressed to the Building & Zoning Official, Marshall Chaney, the WV DEP outlined the city’s compliance with the program’s criteria of having city ordinance regarding dilapidated structures among other key requirements.
“We are excited to see the positive impact this grant will have on our city!” Chaney said. “This is a great opportunity for us to continue moving forward in our efforts to address the dilapidated structures and improve the city’s appearance and quality of life for our residents.”
This comes as great news for the city, as abandoned and dilapidated structures fall under city ordinance. The approved funds will help property owners and the city create a clean, more appealing community.
If you are a property owner with an abandoned or dilapidated structure on your property, please contact the City of St. Albans Building & Zoning Department for more information on how to proceed. They can be reached by calling (304) 727-2962.
More About the WV DEP Ready. Set. Demo Initiative
The “Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Program” (Ready. Set. Demo.) was created within WV DEP by the West Virginia Legislature in 2021. Unfortunately, the legislation did not specify any immediate funding source for the program. In March of 2022, the Legislature approved a transfer by the Governor’s Office of $10,000,000 to launch a pilot phase for the new program. As a result, grants for the reimbursement of demolition expenses for previously targeted structures in 21 selected towns and counties from around the state began in July 2022.
More About The City of St. Albans Dilapidated Structures Initiative
St. Albans Building & Zoning Department has announced a new demolition agreement that will help improve the city’s appearance and safety. Under this new agreement, the city will pay for the demolition of dilapidated buildings and homes if the owner agrees to pay for the associated dump fees to remove the debris.
