Building pulled from auction block
CONNELLSVILLE – Just four days after it was put on the eBay auction block, the former Aaron’s Furniture Store building has been withdrawn from the popular Internet sale site. The property and its owners – both old and new – have been at the forefront when city officials have discussed revitalization, code enforcement or historical significance.
Last year, the controversial North Pittsburgh Street building was turned over to Dunbar businessman Doug Corteal from Richard Dicenzo and recently it was listed for sale on eBay.
Corteal declined to discuss his reasons for ending the bidding process that had garnered more than 30 bids with the last offer at $20,900 when he pulled the plug.
“I can’t say,” he said, adding that his decision was in no way connected to the recent criticism being rendered by city officials about his purchase of the property or his consideration of demolishing the structure. “I had my reasons.”
The six-story building has been vacant for nearly three decades, with Dicenzo cited multiple times by city code enforcement officer Rita Bornstein for not maintaining it within city regulations.
In March, Dicenzo and Corteal appeared before Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ralph C. Warman to appeal the latest citations filed by Bornstein and the associated $8,000 fine.
Warman ruled that Bornstein failed to properly notify Dicenzo that he was to demolish the building and that he was not advised of his appeal rights to the citations. The judicial action, said Corteal, allowed him to proceed with his plans to raze the building and begin construction on a new business office until he learned of the proposed costs to begin demolition.
“Initially, I thought it would cost about $20,000 to bring it down,” said Corteal. “But with the utility lines so close to two sides of the building and the inability to get a crane on the property, the price has tremendously increased.”
While he considers his options, Corteal said that he thought the popular eBay Web site may draw some interest to the property, so he posted a for sale notice on the site that included several photographs and a brief history of the landmark.
The posting, said Corteal, prompted city officials to launch criticism of his action and state that he has thwarted their intentions to obtain the building.
“Last fall, I met with Mayor (Judy) Reed in a one to one discussion of my interest in acquiring the Aaron building,” he said. “I explained that I wanted to tear it down and build a small building in its place.
“We had a pleasant conversation and included dialog regarding the possibility of obtaining grants through the Blueprint Community project.
“(Reed) said that she would look into it and the meeting ended on a positive note.”
The official tone, however, changed after the property exchange took place, Corteal added, with council members Terry Bodes and David McIntire making public comment that the “city tried to acquire and save the Aaron building, but an agreement couldn’t be reached.”
“Mr. Bodes has yet to ever discuss with me any request to acquire the building,” said Corteal.
Bodes declined to comment concerning council’s interest in purchasing the Aaron’s building property.
A meeting with the mayor and council was scheduled prior to the court hearing with both him and Dicenzo with Dicenzo prepared to turnover both the Aaron’s building and the Brimstone building to the city at no cost, he said.
“Only the mayor and (Councilman) Brad Geyer attended,” said Corteal. “There were no strings attached and Richard Dicenzo offered to pay all the expenses of the transfer.
“Unfortunately, Mayor Reed did a last-minute flip-flop and refused the offer.”
Corteal said he continues to explore his options and one is the posting of the property on the Internet as done by a multitude of city commercial property owners, including the Connellsville Shopping Center.
“Mayor Reed blasts any outside the city buyers,” said Corteal. “For years, the city lost thousands and thousands of dollars in tax revenues because of her resistance to Widewaters Development Group, an out of town business.
“Now, in spite of her worst efforts, we have several new stores that are convenient to shop as well as providing jobs for 150 workers.”
Pointing to the lack of local interest in available properties that are vacant, Corteal said an interested outsider might rejuvenate the economy or at the very least, spruce up the empty building.
Local leaders, he said, must work with business and not put stumbling blocks in their path.
“Compare Connellsville to Scottdale and Mount Pleasant,” he said. “Almost every building in downtown Scottdale is occupied and businesses appear to be doing well; likewise, Mount Pleasant is another town that made a remarkable comeback with every building along their main streets occupied and well-kept.”
The key to success, said Corteal, is a good working relationship between officials, the chamber of commerce and other entities with those seeking to do business in the community.
“Several years ago when my company was making plans to build our first building in Connellsville, then-Mayor Ron Haggerty approached me and asked me what he could do to make an easy transition to the city,” he said. “He made it a point to welcome our business.
“Unfortunately, times have changed and instead of hearing from the Welcome Wagon, we are greeted with venomous messages and crossbones and skulls attached to the buildings we look to acquire.”
Reed failed to respond to a telephone message left at her home seeking comment.