Lehighton has agreed to advertise for bids to demolish a blighted building.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote Monday approved the measure for 209 N. First St. upon completion of the documents. Councilwoman Lisa Perry was absent.

The intention is to award a bid at a special meeting in December, borough Manager Nicole Beckett said.

Beckett said the borough and Keystone Consulting Engineering Inc. will hold a community meeting for the property owners who will be impacted by the demolition.

Council’s action comes after it approved the engineering proposal from Keystone Consulting Engineering in the amount of $18,000 for the demolition of 209 N. First St.

In April, Beckett said council had attempted to have the property owner correct the issues since 2014.

Beckett said that in 2017, the property had changed hands to an owner out of New York, and had provided the borough with plans to repair the building, and a building permit application was submitted and approved.

She added that last year, the borough had to secure various locations of the building, has proceeded through additional legal action, and in September the property owner had been ordered by Carbon courts to raze the structure.

Beckett said that after 30 days of that order, the borough was authorized to do so and place judgment on the property.

Along with Lehighton, Palmerton and Jim Thorpe received a combined $300,000 in state funding to address blighted properties in their respective towns.

Approved in May, the money came courtesy of the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Blight Remediation Program and was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Jim Thorpe applied for the funding on behalf of the three municipalities. According to the application, $118,853 is proposed for use on any of five properties in Jim Thorpe listed for reconstruction/rehabilitation, $181,147 toward the demolition of a Lehighton property, Palmerton duplex structure and Jim Thorpe residence.

With local and private match, $32,326 is allocated to renovations, and $24,708 toward demolition for a total program budget of $354,390.

The proposed demolition sites include 209 N. First St. in Lehighton, 509-511 Lehigh St. in Palmerton, and 204 Center Ave. in Jim Thorpe.

In September, Palmerton Borough Council approved a quote in the amount of $17,950 to demolish 509-511 Lehigh Ave.

The property is located next to its fire company.

In 2012, the borough decided to purchase the homes at 509-511 Lehigh Ave. to increase the lot size as per the fire company’s recommendation.

Proposed rehabilitation/reconstruction sites, all in Jim Thorpe, are 82 E. Third St., 56 W. Broadway, 109 North Ave., 112 North Ave., and 209 Center Ave.

In September, Jim Thorpe Borough Council approved the Blight Remediation Grant engineering proposal for 204 Center Ave., Jim Thorpe; engineering proposal for 209 N. First St., Lehighton; and demolition quotes for 509-511 Lehigh Ave., Palmerton.