Officials look to buy Clyde Mine property
EAST BETHLEHEM TWP. – The East Bethlehem Township commissioners will be making their case to Washington County officials for funding to purchase the former Clyde Mine property. Paul Battaglini, chairman of the township commissioners, said the township is under contract to purchase the 18.4-acre Clyde Mine site for a purchase price of $2 million. The township is trying to obtain a grant through the Local Share Account program in which state gambling revenue is redistributed to communities in the counties hosting slots parlors.
Washington County Director of Administration Scott Fergus said Washington County is expecting $8-10 million in slots money for distribution in 2008. The Washington County Redevelopment Authority is overseeing the program, with the Economic Roundtable, which includes the executive directors of a variety of economic development groups in the county, reviewing the grant applications.
East Bethlehem Township will make its case before the Economic Roundtable on Jan. 31. According to the project narrative submitted with the grant application, the immediate plan for the site is to eliminate sediment coming from a large slag pile, generating income by selling the useable coal refuse.
According to the narrative, the township would like to eventually relocate the municipal building, library and fire hall to the site.
“The remaining acreage could then be used for housing and/or commercial development. Tentative plans include an area for senior citizen activities, retail shops and restaurants comparable to the Waterfront Center in Homestead, PA,” the narrative states.
Battaglini said the waterfront property at the southern end of Fredericktown is above the flood plain and included an Army Corps of Engineers permit for 300 boat slips. There are also large abutments in the Monongahela River that could be used as the foundations for restaurants and shops built over the water, Battaglini said.
According to Battaglini, Fredericktown has the potential for future economic growth because of its location, which doesn’t allow many alternatives for motorists.
“You have to go through Fredericktown to go to either California or Carmichaels,” Battaglini said. “Hopefully, the redevelopment authority will see that we have a vision. All we need to do is purchase this Clyde Mine area and people will be coming in here to purchase these old homes.”
Fergus said 86 Washington County communities have submitted grant applications. The total amount requested is $88 million, Fergus said, which is about 10 times what will be available. Fergus said at least 20 of the applications are related to sewer line projects being done by municipalities.
The Center-West Joint Sewer Authority is seeking more than $6 million from the Local Share grant program toward the estimated $18 million sewer line project it is working on in areas of Centerville and West Brownsville that at present do not have public sewerage.
According to the project narrative, the project area includes the site of a proposed Wal-Mart Super Center, which could be in jeopardy if sewerage is not available.
California Borough is also seeking funding toward the construction of a new sewage treatment plant and the extension of sewer lines to Granville, High Point, East Malden and other areas. That project is estimated at $15 million.
The Vestaburg-New Hill Joint Authority, which includes a portion of East Bethlehem Township, has also submitted a grant application to the county. The authority wants the money to help with the planned replacement of old lines to prevent raw sewage from backing up into homes and streets. That project is estimated at $3.3 million.