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Jeannette Officials Hoping For Funding To Raze Monsour Medical Center

JEANNETTE (KDKA) -- It's been an alleged hangout for drug dealers, drug users, arsonists and squatters; but soon, if funding from the state comes through, the old Monsour Medical Center in Jeannette may become a memory.

There's graffiti on the windows of the old health care facility that's now a Route 30 eyesore.

"It's been vandalized, it's been stripped of every valuable piece of material - copper and what have you," said Jason Rigone, the executive director of the Westmoreland County Development Council.

In November of 2012 KDKA's Andy Sheehan entered the abandoned health care facility with local officials. Our cameras showed blood and tissue samples lying about, plus thousands of personal records of past patients.

"All the procedures, medications, diagnosis they may have had," said Scott Avolio, the Jeannette city attorney.

The derelict hospital has also seen dozen of arson cases.

"Last year, a fire broke out in one of the structures and it closed Route 30 and that's an issue," said Rigone.

Rigone and state Sen. Kim Ward are at the spearhead to get state funding to raze the structure.

"We're looking at over a million dollars at this point," said Rigone. "That is basically taking the building down and having a clean site."

County commissioners are expected to give the green light for a business plan to the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital program, $1 million in all.

If Harrisburg cuts a check, it will show up in late summer with demolition to begin immediately.

RELATED LINKS:
More Reports on the Monsour Medical Center
More Jeannette News
More Westmoreland County News
More Reports by Ross Guidotti

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