On behalf of Fayette County, the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette (RACF) is proposing to undertake a project which involves the demolition of 2 residential properties located at 202/204 and 206 4th Avenue in Brownsville Borough, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. A portion of this project may be funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. CDBG funds are provided to Fayette County through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
These properties are located on the corner of Brashear Street and 4th Avenue in the Northside portion of the Borough. These buildings are located at the rear of parcel #02-06-0328 behind the Historic Rose Mansion. The Rose Mansion is not part of this project. Threse properties have been vacant for several years. Rehabilitation of these buildings was considered as part of the Environmental Review process. In the process an economic feasibility assessment was conducted. It was concluded that the rehabilitation cost is far greater than the after-rehabilitation market value. The estimated cost of rehabilitation of 202/204 4th Avenue is $367,643 and $537,084 for 206 4th Avenue versus an after-rehabilitation value of each property of $127,500. As a result, it was concluded economically infeasible to rehabilitate either building. Therefore, it is the intent of the Redevelopment Authority to pursue demolition.
As part of the Environmental Review process, RACF consulted with the PA State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). During consultation, these properties were identified as 2 of the 188 contributing resources within the Brownsville Northside Historic District (Resource # 1985RE00031), which is a national historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) by the U.S. Department of Interior since 1993. There period of significance for the district is 1797-1939 for its significance in commerce and architecture. The buildings proposed for were built c. 1920 as mixed-use commercial and residential buildings. It was SHPO’s finding that demolition would result in an Adverse Effect on the Historic District.
The purpose of this Notice is twofold: 1) to notify community members and other interested parties of the proposed demolition and SHPO’s finding of Adverse Effect on the historic district, and 2) to gage the interest of those members and interested parties in acting as a consulting party regarding the required mitigation.
All parties wishing to comment or participate as a consulting party may join RACF for a consultation meeting on February 20, 2026 at 10:00am. The meeting will be held via TEAMS ( Meeting ID: 297 665 781 579 49, Passcode: 5ir6Sm9D).
All comments should be submitted within the next 30 days, or by COB March 4, 2026. Written comments should be directed to: Andrew P. French, RACF Executive Director c/o Brenda M. Girod, Community Development Coordinator at the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, Pennsylvania – 86 West Main Street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania 15401; or via email at bgirod@racfpa.org.
Distribution List:
Fayette County Commissioners
Brownsville Borough Council
Fayette County Historical Society
Brownsville Historical Society
Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation (BARC)
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Progress Fund
National Road Heritage Corridor
Rivers of Steel Heritage Area
Preservation Pennsylvania
Tribal Groups:
o Delaware Nation, Oklahoma
o Delaware Tribe of Indians
o Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
o Osage Nation
o Seneca-Cayuga Nation
PA State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)
Posting Locations:
Fayette County Courthouse
RACF Offices
RACF Web-Site (www.racfpa.org)
Brownsville Borough Building
Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation (BARC)
86 West Main Street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania 15401
Telephone: 724-437-1547 | Fax: 724-437-0731 | Web: www.racfpa.org
