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West Virginia program that helped communities tackle abandoned buildings is running out of money
The state demolition program used $30 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to remove 1,800 unsafe buildings, but funding is now exhausted with no replacement plan.
- Until this year, the Demolition Landfill Assistance Program reimbursed local governments using $30 million in federal COVID-19 recovery funds, but that funding is now depleted and lawmakers have not found a replacement.
- A statewide survey four years ago found nearly 8,000 structures needed demolition at a projected cost of $150 million, while most counties lacked funding and staffing.
- Charleston, West Virginia received $500,000 from the state program and demolition costs averaged about $10,000 per property, with about 1,800 structures demolished in two years.
- County leaders this year paused plans to expand demolitions, and Fayette County Commission must cover costs including humane society operations after state support ended.
- Other states like Ohio provide long-term demolition funding, while Carrie Staton said West Virginia's lack of a plan leaves communities stuck, with one Grant Street house being rebuilt within the year after demolition last year.
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Associated Press News+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
West Virginia program that helped communities tackle abandoned buildings is running out of money
From their home on Charleston’s, West Virginia's West Side, Tina and Matt Glaspey watched the house on the corner of First Avenue and Fitzgerald Street go downhill fast.
·United States
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Beckley Register-HeraldReposted by 
Mountain State Spotlight
Mountain State SpotlightAbandoned buildings are crumbling across West Virginia. A state program to clean them up is out of money.
This story was originally published by Mountain State Spotlight. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox once a week; sign up for the free newsletter at mountainstatespotlight.org/newsletter
Coverage Details
Total News Sources5
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Left
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources lean Left
80% Left
L 80%
C 20%
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