Latest news with #glassmaking
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Real estate speculators accused of preying on struggling towns like Jeannette
At one time, Jeannette was known as the glassmaking capital of the world. But after the last plant closed in the early 80s, hard times followed. Today, the city would like to breathe life back into its downtown but says out-of-state real estate speculators are standing in the way. "The hope and goal is to get every storefront on the avenue back up and running and booming with businesses and it's frustrating that we have out-of-state LLCs that play these games with these properties," city manager Ethan Keedy said. It's a game played by speculators who buy and sell the mostly derelict properties sight unseen with hopes of making a quick buck. If that doesn't happen, the buildings just sit for years, with no plans to renovate or restore them. "Every single one of these types of properties has an impact on its neighbors and the greater community," said Brian Lawrence of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority. "There are probably hundreds of these types of properties that are being owned out-of-state LLCs that continually perpetuate this problem of blighted, vacant, abandoned buildings," Lawrence said. One example: a vacant storefront that may look OK on the outside but it's caved in and has no floor or roof. "I don't know why anyone would buy completely sight unseen," Lawrence said. And yet a California limited liability corporation bought the building in February 2022 for $3,100 and then turned around in November of that year, selling it to an LLC in Wyoming for $20,000. Today, the building and buildings like it continue to rot. Another house is barely visible from the street with all the overgrown weeds and bushes that obscure it. Inside, it's a shambles of broken glass. And yet two partners from San Diego, California, bought it in 2020 for $1,000 and haven't done a thing with it. Likewise, a vacant church has fallen into disrepair, but a Maryland investor bought it last year for $9,576. The city says it knows of no plans for any of these buildings and has been unable to get in touch with the owners about unpaid taxes and code violations. But just why speculators are buying up Jeannette and other struggling towns remains a bit of a mystery. If they can't quickly sell, many of the buyers would seem to be stuck with properties considered liabilities. The city and county think there may be certain tax advantages but believe investors are putting up little money for potentially big returns. "I think it's predatory. The places that this kind of stuff is happening — not just in Westmoreland County but across the state — it's tending to happen in communities that are already at a disadvantage in many ways. So it's doubly hurtful that this game gets played in places that deserve it the least," Lawrence said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fears of a glass-making gap after centre shuts
Campaigners fighting to save the National Glass Centre from closure fear a skills gap will develop while a new hub is built. The centre in Sunderland is due to close to the public in July 2026 and a new site, called Glassworks, is planned to open in Sunniside in 2028 with the aim of preserving the city's glass-making history. Sunderland Culture, which will be running Glassworks, said there would be an alternative glass-making provision in the interim period, subject to funding being secured. But campaign group Save the National Glass Centre warned artists might not stick around until the new venue opened. The £7.5m Glassworks facility has secured £5m from the government's Cultural Development Fund, with efforts under way to raise the remaining £2.5m. However, campaigners said the Sunniside venue was not designed for glass-making processes, which require the use of heat, and warned the project could run out of money. "There's certainly going to be a gap between glass-making finishing at the National Glass Centre and starting at Glassworks," said Nigel Taylor from the campaign group. "We don't think that the budgets have been thought out well enough for Glassworks. "The danger is that it runs out of money and glass-making closes at the National Glass Centre and never starts anywhere else." A spokesperson for Sunderland Culture said its fundraising target reflected the costs "for making the building fit for purpose as a glass-making space". "Further detailed design and development work will take place in the coming months in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including the glass-making community," they added. The University of Sunderland, which has been glass centre's custodian since 2010, announced last year that the venue would close in 2026 due to unaffordable repair costs. A spokesperson said the university had supported Sunderland Culture with the Glassworks project, which "represents a new opportunity to create an exciting model for the future of glass-making in the city". The city council said it was continuing to work with "city and national partners on the future of glass-making in Sunderland". But campaigners said they were "deeply concerned" for staff. A spokesperson for the campaign group said: "People with mortgages to pay and children in school cannot be expected to sit around and wait for Glassworks to open its doors in three years' time. "Sunderland will lose all of their talents and expertise as they will have no choice but to move on." There are currently no details on any interim glass-making provision, but Sunderland Culture said: "We recognise how critical it is to retain specialist glass-making expertise and experience in the city." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. National Glass Centre closure date set Proposed new Glassworks site announced Why is the National Glass Centre closing? Sunderland Culture University of Sunderland
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fears of Sunderland glass-making gap after centre shuts
Campaigners fighting to save the National Glass Centre from closure fear a skills gap will develop while a new hub is centre in Sunderland is due to close to the public in July 2026 and a new site, called Glassworks, is planned to open in Sunniside in 2028 with the aim of preserving the city's glass-making Culture, which will be running Glassworks, said there would be an alternative glass-making provision in the interim period, subject to funding being campaign group Save the National Glass Centre warned artists might not stick around until the new venue opened. The £7.5m Glassworks facility has secured £5m from the government's Cultural Development Fund, with efforts under way to raise the remaining £ campaigners said the Sunniside venue was not designed for glass-making processes, which require the use of heat, and warned the project could run out of money. "There's certainly going to be a gap between glass-making finishing at the National Glass Centre and starting at Glassworks," said Nigel Taylor from the campaign group. "We don't think that the budgets have been thought out well enough for Glassworks. "The danger is that it runs out of money and glass-making closes at the National Glass Centre and never starts anywhere else."A spokesperson for Sunderland Culture said its fundraising target reflected the costs "for making the building fit for purpose as a glass-making space"."Further detailed design and development work will take place in the coming months in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including the glass-making community," they added. 'Lose talent' The University of Sunderland, which has been glass centre's custodian since 2010, announced last year that the venue would close in 2026 due to unaffordable repair costs.A spokesperson said the university had supported Sunderland Culture with the Glassworks project, which "represents a new opportunity to create an exciting model for the future of glass-making in the city".The city council said it was continuing to work with "city and national partners on the future of glass-making in Sunderland". But campaigners said they were "deeply concerned" for staff.A spokesperson for the campaign group said: "People with mortgages to pay and children in school cannot be expected to sit around and wait for Glassworks to open its doors in three years' time."Sunderland will lose all of their talents and expertise as they will have no choice but to move on."There are currently no details on any interim glass-making provision, but Sunderland Culture said: "We recognise how critical it is to retain specialist glass-making expertise and experience in the city." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
