Demolitions continuing across Mercer County after storm
Oct. 16—princeton — Winds and rain that lashed Mercer County when Hurricane Helene's remnants hit the region have not slowed down a program offering grants to help people demolish the dilapidated structures on their property.
Last January, the state Department of Environmental Protection awarded Mercer County was awarded $750,000 grant to demolish more decaying structures after $1.5 million in state DEP money, which was awarded in 2023, helped the county tear down around 750 dilapidated or burned-out structures. Grants to property owners who could not afford to have old houses and other structures torn down and hauled away paid for many of these demolitions.
Lori Mills, the county's dilapidated buildings officer, said Tuesday that destruction inflicted by the hurricane has not delayed the program. The county is now waiting for the state's permission to start tearing down a new batch of dilapidated homes and other buildings. Part of the state's procedure is designed to make sure historic structures are not destroyed.
"I have SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) approval for 62 and I'm just waiting on the state to give me the green light," she said. "I still have money left. I just need people to apply."
Residents of Athens, Bramwell and Oakvale can apply for demolition grants along with county citizens, Mills said, adding that she has received only three applications from the towns' residents, but would like to see more.
Mills said applications are available on the door of her office in the Memorial Building located at 1500 West Main Street in Princeton near the Mercer County Courthouse. Residents can also contact Mills at and ask her to email them an application.
Under the current DEP grant of $750,000, a three-year lien is placed on homes and buildings, but the lien is forgiven after three years, Mills said. The DEP also requires partial fees for mobile home demolitions.
This flat-rate fee is $500 for a single-wide mobile home and $1,000 for a double-wide structure, Mills said. Demolishing a single-wide mobile home and having the debris hauled away normally cost around $1,500.
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