A new local company working to tackle
a large blight problem in Johnstown
is hoping to tear down its first home
since the business started.
The owners of the Johnstown Paper
Company started spearheading its mission
about three months ago.
Seth and Chad Gontkovic are selling
paper products to work to make enough
money to tear down old abandoned houses
throughout Johnstown.
"We've seen the problem that exists with
blight and the limited resources there
are to tackle a large aspect of the problem.
This business takes advantage of something
everyone buys and solves a problem that
the community needed solved,""said Chad Gontkovic.
On Facebook, the owners encouraged the
community to go on and vote for which
house they'd want to be demolished first.
"We wanted to include the community because
this is the community's work. It feels right
to let them have a say," said Seth Gontkovic.
More than 2,000 votes decided a home on Church
Street in Old Conemaugh Borough would be
demolished first. The other choice was a home
on Strayer Street in the city's West End.
The owners said they plan to demolish both
eventually.
"The poll ended last night. We're going to be
filing the paper work for demolition sometime
next week. We're hoping it will be torn down
by Christmas," said Chad.
To continue to help the company spearhead its
mission, you can buy a holiday box for $25
that can be shipped for free to your front door.
"These are our holiday home boxes. They come
with six rolled toilet papers, four rolls
of paper towels and two boxes of tissues,"
said Chad.
You can find more information by clicking the
Blue Blight Link at the top of this story.
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