=Planning Commission members want to have a say in the potential renaming of the Third Avenue Bridge in Warren.

The council also discussed the future of the Third Avenue bridge after a recent City Council meeting brought forward many potential naming ideas. The Planning Commission requested that, as petitions and ideas come forward, the City Council might defer to the planning commission for recommendation.

However, the commission also voiced concern for what one this could lead to in the future.

“Does naming one structure open the door to naming every structure in Warren County?” asked Chair Elizabeth Raible.

Until this point, there has been no standard process for this sort of problem. The council agreed that the creation of a policy be added to the agenda for future deliberation. A motion was approved that Raible would have a discussion with Mayor David Wortman in the next few weeks about a possible policy.

Commission members also introduced new member Shaunta Alburger during its most recent meeting. Alburger, who has lived in Warren since 2018, fills the only open seat on the commission, and it now has full members.

The commission declared a blight at 20 Grant Street. This is the second declaration of blight on the building.

According to the committee, it was bought in July 2024 but has remained vacant and lacks utilities.

The property owner, whose last known address was in Philadelphia, has been reached out to a few times in the past about lawn care issues but recently the grass has been being cut.

According to Randall Rossey, city codes and Planning Department director, the city has received multiple phone calls regarding the property. Necessary repairs needed on the property include fixing the roof and replacing broken windows. However, Rossey emphasized that the building is stable in structure.

“The property could be turned around rather quickly,” he stated.

The Declaration of Blight will now move to the Redevelopment Authority for consideration and potential action.