Mercer County is on track to remove nearly 300 dilapidated buildings, enhancing community safety and aesthetics
They’ve been busy with demolitions along Monroe Street, just outside Princeton. This batch has 62 buildings, and they’re almost done. The weather had slowed things down a bit, but it’s looking better now.
In January 2024, the county scored a $750,000 grant from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for more demolitions. Residents in towns like Athens, Bramwell, and Oakvale can apply for these grants too. They already used up a $1.5 million grant from last year.
Mills mentioned they still have about $467,000 left from the new grant. She’s gearing up to tackle another 40 structures soon. The area around Monroe Street is crucial since it had several decaying buildings that needed to go.
If anyone can’t afford to tear down their dilapidated homes, they should definitely apply for the grants. Mills is urging folks not to wait, as this program is one of the biggest in the state. There’s no guarantee they’ll get more funding after this grant runs out.
Applications are available at her office in the Memorial Building on West Main Street in Princeton. Residents can also email Mills to get an application sent to them.
Just a heads up, there’s a three-year lien on homes under this grant, but it gets forgiven after that. There’s also a fee for mobile home demolitions—$500 for single-wides and $1,000 for double-wides. Normally, tearing down a single-wide costs about $1,500.
If you have questions, you can reach out to Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com.
