Demolition of a condemned house at 220 Fifth Ave. in Butler started on Wednesday. The $12,770 demolition fee is being paid for with county grant money.

A blighted house in Butler that has been vacant for at least four or five years is being demolished using money provided by Butler County.

Demolition of the house at 220 Fifth Ave. began Wednesday and the $12,770 bill is being covered by a county fund used for grant matches, low and moderate income housing and blight mitigation and funded by a fee on real estate transfers.

“This is part of the City of Butler’s blight removal program,” said John Evans, building code official. “This project is unique because it’s going to be paid for with Act 137 money from the county.”

“That fund is extremely important to Butler County. We’ve been trying very hard as commissioners to make sure the municipalities, including the city, are working closely with county resources. This is one of those collaborative efforts,” said county Commissioner Kevin Boosel.

The fund is used for grant matches, low and moderate-income homeownership programs, foreclosure prevention programs and blight mitigation, and is administered by the Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Boozel said.

He said the fund has been used to pay for other demolition projects targeting blight throughout the county. Boozel said he is glad the city is using the money to tear down a blighted home.

“We’re happy to see that happen,” Boozel said.

The Fifth Avenue demolition is the result of two years of work, Evans said.

The property owner, who lives in Florida, didn’t respond to the building code violation letters the city sent, he said.

He said the city health board condemned the home and ordered the demolition.

The contractor, Young and Sons Excavation, spent two days removing the windows and chimney before starting the demolition Wednesday. The demolition will take two or three days to complete, Evans said.