FARRELL Council approves sale of land near hospital for medical offices

Commercial and residential development projects occupied city council's time.
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- City council wants to sell 5.15 acres of its former Farrell City Park to PBL Associates LP of Hermitage.
The city eliminated recreation at the former 10-acre park along Sharon-New Castle Road near UPMC Horizon hospital years ago and has been pushing commercial development of the land.
A number of medical offices were built there several years ago.
Council voted Monday to authorize the Farrell Redevelopment Authority, which holds title to the land, to sell a 5.15-acre parcel to PBL Associates at $17,500 per acre.
The company will get a six-month option to make the purchase.
LaVon Saternow, city manager, said the specifics of the company's proposed project haven't been revealed, but it will be some type of medical offices.
Home site
City Park wasn't the only development package on council's agenda.
Council voted to authorize the redevelopment authority to sell five vacant city-owned lots in the 800 block of Spearman Avenue to Barnes/Miles Global Community Development of Pittsburgh, a housing development company that plans to eventually build 25 highly energy-efficient houses in Farrell.
The company will have a six-month option on the lots, all of which are just 25 feet wide, and can buy them for $1 plus the costs of transfer taxes.
Saternow said Barnes/Miles wants to build a model home in the city and will do so at the Spearman Avenue location.
The company has formed a partnership with Southwest Gardens Economic Development Corp. on Darr Avenue to build five houses on Southwest Gardens' lots.
The two- and three-bedroom homes will cost between $70,000 and $80,000 each, but aided by a number of prospective grant programs, the sale price will be between $25,000 and $35,000.
The goal is to foster home ownership for low- and moderate-income families and to create investment in the community.
Plaza
Finally, council authorized the redevelopment authority to sell four lots on Spearman Avenue, where the former municipal building stood, to Wesex Corp. of West Middlesex, which owns a small plaza adjacent to that site.
Saternow said Wesex wants to further develop the plaza and needs the additional space.
The company will pay $2,000 plus transfer costs for the lots.
gwin@vindy.com