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By MARK GUYDISH; Times Leader Staff Writer
Sunday, June 23, 1996     Page: 3

HAZLETON — A vacant building on West Mine Street has become a breeding
ground for rats, say Hazleton Housing Authority officials.
   
The building is immediately west of the authority’s Vine Manor apartment
building in the 300 block of West Mine Street. Authority Executive Director
Rich Campbell said he did not know who owned the building.
    Campbell said authority employees have complained several times about rats,
saying they could create a health risk to the elderly tenants of Vine Manor’s
99 apartments, Campbell said.
   
The authority board of directors authorized Campbell to file a formal
complaint with the city health inspector and to see if the authority could
purchase the building.
   
Campbell said the authority had considered buying the property several
years ago. At that time the owner wanted $45,000 for the two-story structure.
Campbell said an authority employee who recently called a phone number posted
on the empty building had been told the price is now $85,000.
   
At the suggestion of authority solicitor James Ferry Jr., the board also
agreed to investigate the possibility of seizing the property through “eminent
domain.” Ferry said the first step would be to have the building appraised to
see if the authority could afford to pay a “fair market value.”
   
If the authority did attempt to seize the property, it would still have to
pay a fair market value as determined by the court, Ferry said.
   
TIMES LEADER/PETE G. WILCOX
   
Hazleton Housing Authority officials complain this vacant building on West
Mine Street has become a breeding ground for rats.