"There are about 1,700 blighted properties in Schuylkill County, Gary Bender, grant administrator and demolition coordinator for Schuylkill County, said Thursday.

To tear them all down, it could cost more than $34 million, an amount not easy to muster in the troubled economy, said state Sen. Lloyd K. Smucker, R-13, Lancaster.

Blight is one of the major problems municipal leaders face in pursuing community revitalization efforts and the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee is looking to put more focus this session on legislation to rid communities of dilapidated buildings."  For the complete article, please click here.