News

Natrona residents see better building code enforcement as the greatest need in helping a neighborhood that is battling to improve itself.

The community group Natrona Comes Together has released the results of a formal survey of residents, which points to more stringent code enforcement as the struggling neighborhood's biggest need.

Natrona Comes Together President Bill Godfrey agrees.

Harrison currently only has a part-time code-enforcement officer. With the backlog of violations, Godfrey thinks the township would need to dedicate a full-time officer to handle complaints in Natrona.

Volunteers have been compiling code violation complaints, he said, which Natrona Comes Together sends to the township.

"We're willing to solve our own problems, but there's only so much we can do without the township's help," Godfrey said. "We can't apply penalties ourselves."

Code officer Ron Misejka did not return a message asking for comment on the amount of staffing that would be needed to alleviate the backlog.

"Two summers ago they hired an intern, and I had never seen so many changes," Godfrey said. "The job is too big for one person."

Township Commissioner Michael Stanoski, who represents Natrona and West Natrona, said Misejka has submitted a letter saying he intends to retire at the end of June. He said commissioners soon will advertise for a replacement, and may discuss adding more hours to the job.

But a full-time officer is not possible because of the cost, including benefits and paid time off, Stanoski said.

"People don't realize that ordinance enforcement is a lot tougher than they think it is," Stanoski said. "A lot of people think you see this dilapidated house or apartment or an absentee landlord home where people just take off and leave us with the slum housing, you can't just tear them down. There's a lot of laws out there.

"I think Ron did the best he could," Stanoski added. "He does need help."

About the survey:

The survey, conducted by the consulting firm Remington, Vernick and Beech, had about a 10 percent response rate, which consultant Lee Mueller said was a "pretty good response."

Eighty percent of the 90 respondents said that Natrona had become a less desirable place to live during the past 10 years.

Mueller said that sobering figure was buoyed somewhat by 52 percent saying they expected the area to improve over the next 10 years, and about 75 percent planned to stay in Natrona.

"That means people haven't given up hope," he said. "Some people described Natrona as a slum, but others called it a great place to live and (others described it as) everything in between.

"Residents share the general agreement that things have gotten better over the past year, and people definitely see the results of police work in the area."

Godfrey said one of the main boons followed the closing of two nuisance bars — Sisters Hotel and Granma's Inn.

"We were at rock bottom before those places closed," Godfrey said. "But we're not seeing people hanging out in the streets like we used to."

Formal plan coming

The Allegheny County Office of Economic Development recently awarded a $40,000 grant to the group for a feasibility study that will factor into the neighborhood revitalization plan.

Godfrey said that plan will give the organization more credibility when looking for funding assistance.

"It will legitimize our vision when we take it to the outside world."

Staff writer Brian C. Rittmeyer contributed to this report.