Jeannette considers future of 20 vacant properties held by late owner's estate

Jeannette officials are examining ways to gain control of 20 vacant properties owned by the late Frank Trigona while the parcels are entangled in Westmoreland County's delinquent tax system.

Eight of the businessman's properties are on Clay Avenue — the city's downtown — and most are going through the judicial sale process. About $471,000 in delinquent property taxes is owed on the parcels dating back as far as 2005, according to county tax records.

“It does inhibit potential development, and it's kind of a waiting game,” said city manager Michael Nestico. “It's frustrating because in a city that's turning a corner and attempting to take large revitalization steps, it's tough to have properties that are sitting out there and not being maintained.”

Long-vacant, dilapidated buildings stand on some of the properties; others are empty, grassy lots sprinkled throughout the city. All have been for sale for years with no serious buyers or offers made, said Lawrence Walter, executor of Trigona's estate.

“My interest is getting these properties back on the tax rolls for the city, the county and the school district,” Walter said.

Trigona died in August. The estate is essentially bankrupt with no way to pay off the delinquent taxes, Walter said.

“He owes more money than the properties are worth,” Walter said.

The Clay Avenue parcels could be opportunities for the county's land bank or redevelopment authority, as could the largest piece — the former Fort Pitt Brewery, which sits on 4.6 acres, according to city officials.

But there's little that Jeannette officials can do while the tax sale process winds through county court. Some of the properties could be included in a judicial sale in December while at least three others — including the abandoned brewery on which $225,098 in property taxes are owed — are slated for an upset sale in September, county records show.

“The city is going to consider our options for potentially acquiring the (Trigona) properties or trying to funnel them into the hands of owners that would develop or maintain them,” Nestico said.

In a judicial sale, a property can be sold to the highest bidder. Any parcels not sold during that sale will be moved into the county's repository. Delinquent taxes are exonerated in either case.

It's a waiting game at the moment — a frustrating one — for city officials.

‘We understand that there is a tax sale process,” Nestico said. “You have to wait.”

Mayor Richard Jacobelli wants the city to gain control of some of the properties to avoid another costly cleanup in the event of another fire.

Since a massive fire in April destroyed a vacant, three-story building along Clay Avenue owned by Trigona's Rufus Corp., Jeannette taxpayers have paid about $70,000 for emergency demolition, and officials expect to shell out additional funds to complete the project. Fire investigators were not able to determine the cause of the blaze.

In the same block, firefighters last month extinguished a suspicious blaze in another vacant property owned by Rufus Corp.

“I would like the city to have control of these properties,” Jacobelli said. “That's the only way we'll be able to redevelop it.”

Solicitor Scott Avolio said he has been researching the properties owned by Trigona or his companies to see if any additional liens exist outside of delinquent taxes.

“Everybody has an interest in seeing these otherwise vacant properties salvaged before it's too late,” he said. “There's not an easy process.

“While it may be a little bit more time, we are hopefully getting closer to moving those properties closer to a point of redevelopment,” he said.

Trigona had been a thorn in the city's side for years.

He sued the city in 2007 after council adopted an ordinance denying him occupancy permits for two rental properties because he owed Jeannette taxes. A county judge overturned the ordinance and ordered the city to pay $272,000 to Trigona for lost rental income and legal fees. In 2013, city council approved a structured settlement.

Previously, Trigona was cited for having four goats on his 6-acre property. The issue drew critics and supporters, and for a time the goats had their own Facebook page. Trigona removed the goats in January 2011 after council passed an ordinance that prohibited farm animals in the city.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com.