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RDA seeks owners of Limestone property

Unresponsive owners have left the Warren County Redevelopment Authority with a challenging situation.

The subject property is 58 Bush Lane in Limestone Township, just off Rt. 62 outside Tidioute.

The RDA discussed the property during a Tuesday morning meeting.

County Planner Dan Glotz said that the structure was “some sort of commercial-type building back in its day.” In addition, the structure has no utilities, another blight criteria.

County assessment data lists Lynda Bush-Berenbrok as the owner of the property. Her address is listed in care of Kenneth Bush, 531 San Francisco St., Oakland, Md.

The property was before the county’s Blighted Property Review Committee in January where it was revealed that the structure is abandoned with the exception of rodents that have been seen entering through holes in the structure.

“(The) grass apparently has not been cut for several years,” Glotz added, telling the RDA that the owners of record have a Oakland, Maryland address.

Certified mail to the owner has been unclaimed but regular mail was not returned.

Owners “shouldn’t be allowed to just walk away from a building,” Authority Chairman Charles Barone said.

“People that walk away from a building… want the township to take it over,” Authority member Joe Scully said.

Glotz told the Authority that two adjacent properties are for sale – with the same owner as the blighted property in question.

“They were invited to this meeting,” Glotz said of the owners. “(They) never even attempted to contact us and let us know one way or the other.”

Authority member Phil Gilbert asked if the realtor for the adjacent properties has been contacted as they might have a more fruitful address.

The Authority tabled action on the property while staff reach out to the realtor to confirm contact information for the owner.

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