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The former St. Pius V church and school is slated for demolition under a proposal approved by the city Planning Commission yesterday.
In a separate action, the commission also approved construction of a new Family Dollar store next to the Rite Aid pharmacy at the corner of Walnut Street and Eden Park Boulevard in the city's 12th Ward.
At a hearing Thursday afternoon, the commission by 5-0 vote approved a conditional use request from the Pauline Auberle Foundation to create a group home in the former St. Pius V rectory.
. . .
Auberle has operated its landmark home for boys and girls on Hartman Street since 1952. John Lydon, CEO of the Pauline Auberle Foundation, testified that the group is purchasing the St. Pius V property and wants to use the rectory as a residence for up to 22 girls ages 12 to 20.
The facility would be supervised 24 hours per day and would employ 22 people, he said. None of the girls are permitted to own vehicles and they would be driven to and from school, Lydon said.
"It's our intention to remodel the building to refit it for single rooms," Lydon said. expects to spend about $200,000 on renovating the rectory, he said.
. . .
The church and school would be demolished and the area turned into greenspace, Lydon said, including an outdoor pavilion for recreational and educational activities. Plantings would be used to create a privacy barrier between the facility and neighboring homes.
Located on Fremont and Boyd streets near Versailles Avenue, St. Pius V closed in February 2010, and the parish has since merged into nearby Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church.
No one spoke in opposition to the plan, which must now head to city council for final approval.
. . .
Family Dollar to Christy Park: In a separate, unrelated move, the commission by 5-0 vote approved a site plan submitted by JDH Capital of Charlotte, N.C., for construction of an 8,300 square foot retail store on Walnut Street in Christy Park.
The location --- adjacent to the current Rite Aid --- would become the home of a new Family Dollar store, said engineer John Cenkner of Acme, Westmoreland County, who testified on behalf of JDH. Pending approval by city council, construction could begin this summer.
The parcel is at the same intersection as a new Bottom Dollar grocery store being built on the site of the former Eat 'n Park, Keystone Auto Parts and Paul Jones Dodge.
. . .
In Other Business: Also approved by 5-0 votes were the subdivision of the former Reliance Steel property into three smaller lots; and the vacation of a so-called "paper alley" in Fawcett Plan.
The 2.9-acre parcel that will be subdivided is owned by an Forward Township firm and wraps around two sides of the Rite Aid store. The property is zoned for commercial use and the subdivision is necessary to market the site for development, said Norman McHolme, who testified on behalf of the property owners.
The alley being vacated is at the end of Delaware Avenue. Homeowner James Buckley requested the change to remedy parking and trespassing problems on the street, and told the planning commission he would take over responsibility for clearing the alley of overgrowth and debris.
All of the actions must be ratified by council at its July 6 meeting.
golf clap
Wow. Another store to sell cheap plastic crap. I’m impressed.
Can’t we get something high-end, like a Panera? Or another place to cash a check, or get your nails did?
John - June 24, 2011
Is this really necessary ? We have enough junky dollar stores around. WE DON’T NEED ANYMORE !!!!! When all you do is bring in junk, then your town will continue to be junk.
Pavelbure - June 25, 2011
I don’t think the city is “bringing in” these kinds of businesses on purpose.
I think private developers sell their private property to companies who build things that they think will be profitable.
Given the demographics of the Mon Valley —- older and poorer —- the kinds of companies likely to locate retail stores here are companies that cater to the elderly and people with lower incomes … in other words, drug stores and dollar stores.
It’s economics, unfortunately. Under state law, a local planning commission has very little role in determining what kinds of businesses go where.
Webmaster - June 25, 2011
These are new buildings, that is an investment in our town. Most commerical realitors watch what is being done by others. This is a postive for our town. The merchandise assortment of Family Dollar differs from dollars stores.
Until we generate revenue to get the rest of the old buildings. We don’t have much to offer to new families coming in. There seems to be a plan, lets hope it keeps going.
Jim Miller - June 27, 2011
No, there IS no plan. Do you know what a plan is?
Here’s a plan:
The city likely owns acreage that is vacant, and not generating tax income. Find an appropriate parcel, and then give the land (for free) to a WORTHWHILE retailer, with the stipulation that they locate and operate their business there for 10 years. If they pull out before then, the land title reverts back to the city.
Think it won’t work? It created the Waterfront development, albeit the requirements were modified. The Keystone Opportunities Zone movement allows businesses to not pay taxes on the land for a period of 10 years, though this kind of agreement wouldn’t likely benefit the city at all since tax revenue would likely be the quickest way to see a monetary benefit to a single new business moving in.
John - June 29, 2011
I’m not a local anymore, so I may not be in tune with the local dynamics. But looking at the last picture, I notice I can see the Yough on the left hand side. I’ve been saying for a while now that development in and around the Mon Valley should focus on things that never change, like the rivers. Wouldn’t it make sense, even if it takes some bravery to imagine it, for a developer with government support to make parks and upscale residential homes along the rivers? People pay a lot of money where I live now to be close to the water. I don’t know…is it a pipe dream (pun intended)?
Shameless plugging also of my not so new and not frequently updated blog. Fun for you nerds out there.
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wzilax (URL) - May 27, 2013
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