Warren’s Redevelopment Authority has locked in a project that will demolish two derelict West Fifth Avenue residences.

The RDA already owns — and approved funding for demolition — at 708 W. Fifth Ave. A property at 710 W. Fifth Ave. followed on Wednesday.

Zoning and Ordinance Official Scott Taylor said “minimal has been done” at the property since 2013, which initially came on to the city’s radar for lack of water.

“After about a year the city was forced to abate some of the issues on this property,” he said. The owner “made no attempt to alleviate the blight” and “only started projects that added to the problems on the property.”

He told the RDA that the city obtained the property at sheriff’s sale.

“Due to the condition of the structure… we are going to ask the RDA today to accept that property,” Taylor said. “It is going to be demolished, both of them, simultaneously.”

Director of Codes and Planning Randy Rossey said he consulted the Department of Public Works, which will handle the demolition, and the timeline is late spring/early summer for the demolition to take place.

RDA member Michael Boyd asked if there is any interest in the vacant parcels.

“At the moment, no,” Rossey said. “Off-street parking is a big hurdle.”

He suggested that having both parcels might alleviate some of that challenge and make the property more appealing.

The RDA approved a $6,000 estimate to demolish 710 W. Fifth Ave. and agreed to take on the property.

The panel also made a formal recommendation to the Warren City Council that the city join the county’s landbank. The primary benefit pitched to the authority was the ability to cut the line at judicial sale and acquire target properties.

Landbank chair Phil Gilbert stressed that the landbank is “not an isolated group that’s just doing stuff” but instead will be “talking to the municipalities, working together.”

“Being able to jump the line and omit those unwanted, undesirable owners, this is more of a sure thing,” Boyd said of the proposal, calling it a “great vehicle” to address some properties.