web1_TTL073016dropoff3.jpg

Food weighed for United Way Christmas in July project

web1_DNC-logo.jpg

Analysis: Democrats must work hard to reach needed unity to defeat Trump

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city is seeking bids for the demolition of three dilapidated houses, including the notorious &#8220;raccoon house&#8221; on Taft Street and a vacant property on Elizabeth Street where a man died in a fire nearly five years ago.</p><p>Separate sealed bids will be accepted by Aug. 15 for 167-169 Almond Lane, 19-21 Elizabeth St. and 57 Taft St. The deadline for submission is 9:30 a.m. with the public opening to follow at 10 a.m. in city council chambers at Wilkes-Barre City Hall.</p><p>The Taft Street house has been a problem for years for neighbor James Burden. He&#8217;s complained repeatedly to city council about the condemned, vacant house that has attracted raccoons and rodents.</p><p>It made the list for demolition after an out-of-state man backed out of a deal to buy the tax-delinquent property when informed by the city the house had to be torn down due its poor condition that posed a danger to public health and safety.</p><p>The double-block house at the corner of Elizabeth and Race streets had been vacant for a few months before the fatal fire on Aug. 4, 2011. Firefighters found the body of Jhole Beaubrun, 29, of Brooklyn, New York on the second floor of 19 Elizabeth St.</p><p>The city last month determined the demolitions would have no significant impact on the environment and asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to release Community Development Block Grant funds for the projects.</p><p>Last week the city condemned five row houses on North Main Street and tapped into its general fund budget to award a $57,000 contract to Stell Enterprises Inc. of Plains Township, the low bidder for the emergency demolition.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Demolition.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Demolition.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>&#8216;Raccoon house&#8217; among those slated to come down</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre seeking bids for demolition of vacant houses