City, state reach armory accord
CONNELLSVILLE – It appears a tentative deal has been struck between the city and the state Department of General Services (DGS) to purchase the vacated Connellsville National Guard Armory, but who may be the occupant has yet to be resolved. On Tuesday, Ed Myslewicz, DGS press secretary, said that an agreement document was forwarded to the city last week.
“The commonwealth has reached a tentative agreement with the city to purchase the property,” he said. “The agreement is still under review by the city.”
Myslewicz said that he could not detail the terms of the agreement until both sides had inked the deal.
Once the agreement is returned to the DGS, he said, a legal review will be conducted and appropriate signatures added before it is forwarded to the state General Assembly and governor for the approved transfer of the property.
Mayor Judy Reed, who was spearheading the local effort, did not immediately return a telephone message Tuesday seeking comment.
Earlier, Reed said that the DGS had agreed to accept five $10,000 payments over the next five years to assist in the purchase.
In January, Reed asked that the city redevelopment authority to fund the purchase, but the board of directors took no action in the matter, stating the expenditure was not included in the 2007 budget.
Ralph Wombacker, authority executive director suggested that the city tap its 2007 state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation, but city council has yet to detail what projects will be funded through the program.
While funding plans are also tentative, Jim Flynn, VFW Post 21 quartermaster, said Tuesday that the post has offered $5,000 per year to the city to assist with the purchase.
“We want to preserve that building,” he said. “A lot of soldiers have passed through the armory.”
For its financial help, Flynn said that the VFW is requesting a committee be formed to determine the use of the property.
“We would just like to have a say on how it is used,” he said.
Councilman Brad Geyer, meanwhile, said that he had no knowledge of a tentative agreement with the DGS, how the purchase would be funded, or been privy to discussions as to what entity might move into the building.
“The only information that I have received is from Rev. (Terry) Guiste in his presentation he made last month to all of us,” he said.
During the January special meeting called by Reed, city council members, the redevelopment authority board of directors and various community members met with Guiste, the executive director of the Connellsville Community Ministries, to discuss the organization’s interest in relocating from its present location at the Connellsville Community Center, into the West Washington Avenue property.
At that time, Guiste informed the officials that while the organization was unable to purchase the site immediately, it would work with the city to eventually take possession, should the city make the arrangements with the DGS.
“At this time, we are interested in dialogue,” Guiste told the January meeting attendees.
The move, said Guiste, would allow for a larger clothing store, housing for furniture the organization distributes to needy families and an increase of its office space.
The tentative proposal included the use of only one-half of the building, which would allow for other entities to share the space, he added.
On Tuesday, Guiste said that the board of directors have had no further contact with the city since the January presentation, but continue to be interested in the property.
“We are still interested in talking with the city,” he said.
Geyer said that he would support the Community Ministries’ proposal, as it would benefit many residents.
A local filmmaker, too, has also expressed interest in the site.
Jeff Monahan, owner of 72nd St. Films, confirmed Tuesday that he and the Pennsylvania Film Office are working together to locate a permanent film studio in the Connellsville area and that the armory is one of two locations under consideration.
The Connellsville native, who left the area to pursue an acting and screenwriting career, recently returned to his hometown and is anxious to establish a site that would lure film producers.
“We would have a sound stage, cameras, lights, sound equipment, offices, make-up, wardrobe; just like Warner Studios only on a smaller scale,” he said.
Monahan said that the movie industry could trace its beginnings to Connellsville, the birthplace of filmmaker Edwin S. Porter.
According to historic records, Porter is credited with making the first western movie, “The Great Train Robbery.”
“We’re in a unique position to take advantage of that because one of the founding fathers of the industry lived at the corner of Fairview Avenue and Prospect Street,” said Monahan. “Without Porter, Hollywood wouldn’t be what it is today.”
Monahan said that a meeting with representatives of the state film office later this week would determine what location would be the focus of his attention.
The armory was built in the early 1900s and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. The two-story, brick structure served as the home base for soldiers assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor unit until 2005 when it transferred to it new readiness center constructed along Rock Ridge Road in Connellsville Township.
City council meets next Tuesday.