Frustrations expressed at redevelopment authority meeting
A Uniontown Redevelopment Authority member expressed frustration Tuesday because 50 employees are poised to leave a downtown building at the same time a group is working to find tenants for three empty Main Street buildings. After authority executive director William C. Long began discussing a recent meeting of the “ReVITALize Downtown Uniontown” initiative, which plans to find tenants for three buildings on Main Street between Storey Square and Beeson Boulevard, authority member John Oris said he heard that another downtown building may soon be hitting the market.
Oris said the owner of the National City Bank building, a lawyer from Canonsburg, is planning to put his building up for sale if the 50 employees of the Fayette County Mental Health/Mental Retardation agency move as planned. The county commissioners and county redevelopment authority recently approved plans for the agency to purchase property and construct its own building at the county business park on Route 40.
“At the same time we’re talking about revitalizing downtown Uniontown, their losing 50 people,” Oris said. Oris said he was upset because the county advocated the move. MH/MR officials sought to construct a building to consolidate all the employees in one place. In addition to two stories in the National City building, employees also occupy a floor of the county health center.
Authority solicitor Samuel J. Davis said he thought the purpose of a business park is for new businesses, not to relocate businesses. Of the five businesses at or moving into the park, only one is a new entity to the county.
Long said losing the employees is unfortunate. “We can’t accomplish all the goals,” he said. Authority chairman Alvin Mundel said it is a “lack of communication.”
In agenda items, the authority approved a more liberal late fee policy for low-interest loans. Long said the authority averages about $1,500 per month from the payments, which are typically about $20 per household. At Long’s suggestion, the authority changed the late payment date from the 10th to the 15th of every month.
The authority voted to include changes to the deferred loan agreements by making the loan payable immediately if the residence status changes. Under the revisions, if the owner of the property changes status and the home goes from owner/occupied to a rental unit, the authority reserved the right to make the loan payable immediately. Long said the intent of the program is to assist owner/occupants.
In what Long termed a “loose-end issue,” the authority voted to enter into a cooperation agreement with the city and the City Mission for the administration of the 2001 emergency shelter grant program. Last month the authority approved an agreement for the 2002 program. Long said he just wanted to ensure that the proper action was taken regarding the 2001 funds.
The authority approved a motion to advertise for three contracts for the Penn Street storm sewer project. Long said the project is “truly a pipe in the street.” The three contracts include installing pipe from Gallatin Avenue to Redstone Creek; installing pipe from Beeson Boulevard to Gallatin Avenue and sidewalk and curb improvements on the north side of Penn Street. The project will be funded using Community Development Block Grant funds.
Mundel said the authority needs a clear agreement with city council to avoid spending money that they don’t have. Long said the contracts are part of the ongoing storm sewer separation project in the city.
Long reported that a HOME application has been submitted in the amount of $265,000. If received, the authority will help 11 low- to moderate-income families by rehabilitating eight owner/occupied homes and helping three families become first time homebuyers.
Long announced that John Ptak, owner of Ptak’s in downtown Uniontown, was appointed to a five-year term on the authority board. The action was taken at a Tuesday meeting of city council. Ptak will replace member John Shull, who did not seek reappointment. Mundel said Ptak will be a “good addition to the board.”