Jun 3, 2010 By Patty Yauger 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville residents will have the opportunity to weigh in Monday on the recent City Council decision to abandon a project funded by the state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and instead earmark the money for demolition purposes. The Connellsville Redevelopment Authority will conduct the public hearing at 4 p.m. in the Connellsville Municipal Building on Arch Street.

Authority executive director Michael Edwards said that the city is required to seek public input when a CDBG recipient proposes to redirect the funding from one project to another.

“It will also be necessary for the state to approve the new use of funding,” he said.

Last month, council agreed by a 4-1 vote to abandon a project undertaken by the former administration to purchase a one-half acre site at the northwest corner of the Crawford Avenue Bridge and develop it into a park.

The former administration had earmarked $65,000 to purchase the property from its owners, Jim and Bryan Mongell, and set aside an additional $40,000 in state funding to do landscaping and purchase park amenities.

The property purchase did not take place.

According to the recent council action, if approved, the $105,000 will be transferred into two accounts, including $21,300 for code enforcement and the remaining $83,700 into a demolition fund.

Earlier, Mayor Charles Matthews said that the demolition fund likely would be used to raze the former Aaron’s Furniture Store.

Council agreed at the May meeting to accept the deed for the North Pittsburgh Street property in order to determine its fate.

A recent feasibility study determined that upwards of $200,000 would be needed to make structural improvements to the building. The amount does not include renovation costs.

The six-story building opened in 1906 and operated for nearly 70 years before closing its doors.

The ownership has changed hands several times since its closure.

However, the doors never reopened.

Council has agreed to consider selling the property provided the developer submits a detailed plan to rehabilitate the building and its future use.

The public, meanwhile, is invited to the Monday hearing to offer comment on the redirection of the CDBG funds.