The Altoona Planning Commission Tuesday certified as blighted a property in Juniata that the city Redevelopment Authority can now try to take by eminent domain, so that it can be renovated — as it is still in fair condition.

It will be potentially the third blighted house in recent months that the authority will have taken by eminent domain, as part of a new initiative designed to prevent unneeded demolitions of deteriorated properties that are not too far gone.

The first such property is on the 1800 block of Fifth Avenue, the second is on the 500 block of Atlantic Avenue, and this third property — which will be likely be a subject of discussion at the next authority meeting — is on the 400 block of North Sixth Street in Juniata, not far from the turntable at the northern end of the Juniata Locomotive Shops.

All three properties were first declared blighted by the city’s recently reconstituted Blighted Property Review Committee, whose role in declaring such properties blighted, coupled with a recommendation for acquisition and reuse, is key to the authority’s being able to acquire them by eminent domain, in keeping with the state’s Urban Redevelopment Law.

The acquisition and reuse of blighted properties that are still fixable is consistent with the city’s recently updated comprehensive plan, according to a citation presented at Tuesday’s meeting.

In the case of all three properties, the owners haven’t responded to repeated attempts at contact by the city Department of Codes and Inspections to discuss code violations, according to officials.

If the North Sixth Street property is accepted by the authority, the authority solicitor will file for eminent domain acquisition, after which there would be additional time for the owner to respond.

If there is still no response, the authority will take ownership.

It’s likely the authority would then advertise a request for proposals for a contractor to acquire, redevelop, then sell the property.

The authority has been working to redevelop a variety of residential properties in that manner — not all of which it has acquired by eminent domain.

The North Sixth Street property has been vacant for about seven years, according to Community Development Director Eric Luchansky.

It previously was a rental.

It is vinyl-sided with four bedrooms.

It’s in “a favorable location,” Luchansky said.

“It’s not a bad area,” said commission member Jesse Ickes, a member of City Council.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.