Uniontown council names Fay-Penn as manager of revitalization project
Uniontown City Council unanimously approved a memorandum Thursday naming Fay-Penn Economic Development Council as the administrator and manager of a proposed $8 million downtown revitalization project. The memorandum of understanding states the city’s intention to hire Fay-Penn as the project manager if the state provides $4 million as a match to $4 million from local sources and possibly federal funds.
A management and administrative contract would have to be negotiated if state funding is approved.
Bob Junk of Fay-Penn thanked council for adopting the memorandum, calling it “the next step in revitalizing downtown Uniontown.”
He predicted that state funding would be approved and that in three or four years, council will be “proud of the rebirth of the city.”
The city has committed $1.5 million toward the local match mostly with infrastructure improvement, demolition and other projects funded by Community Development Block Grants.
The Fayette County Commissioner’s plans for $500,000 in renovations to the Federal Building could be included in the local match, Junk said.
Separate private investments of $1 million and $750,000 are also being counted, leaving a $250,000 hole left to complete the $4 million local match, he said, noting that federal funds could be used to fill the gap.
The state’s match is contained in the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which is part of an economic stimulus package Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed to the legislature.
Junk said the governor’s office informed him that Rendell believes the legislature will approve his education and economic stimulus proposals by Christmas.
In unrelated business, Darlene Reed and her husband asked council if they could purchase a vacant lot at 205 Evans St., which is adjacent to their home.
An abandoned house on the lot was demolished, but back taxes are owned on the property, Mrs. Reed said.
Solicitor Dan Webster said tax liens exceed $6,000 and the money is owed to the city, county and school district.
The Reeds said they can’t afford to pay off the entire amount and the property isn’t worth that much anyway.
Webster said if the Reeds write letters to all three taxing bodies indicating the amount that want to pay for the lot and all three agree to the sale, he would petition Common Pleas Court to give the Reeds a clear deed to the property.
In other business, council:
Unanimously approved borrowing a $550,000 tax anticipation loan at 1.52-percent interest from PNC Bank. PNC’s interest rate was the lowest among five local banks that submitted quotes.
Unanimously adopted an ordinance that makes Ben Lomond Street one-way in an easterly direction from Mont View Street to North Mount Vernon Avenue, and limits on street parking to passenger vehicles. The changes will take affect on Jan. 15.
Approved advertising for the installation of a pitched roof on the street department building. Council rejected five bids already submitted for the project because the city did not provide specifications for the work for those bids. Specifications will be prepared for the project.