Will Girard make splash with sale of upper lake?

GIRARD — One of the larger pieces of property owned by the city will soon be up for grabs to the highest bidder.

Council has passed legislation to allow the city administration to advertise for bids for the sale of Upper Girard Lake. The idea to sell the lake and most of the land around it surfaced after a private citizen expressed interest in buying the property.

Mayor James Melfi would not say exactly who expressed interest in the property, but did say the individual is looking to use the land for residential, commercial and entertainment purposes.

“What piqued our interest in this case is that there was a multiuse plan, and the city can gain additional tax dollars with any such commercial use,” Melfi said.

According to Melfi, the city owns the lake and about 525 acres around the lake. The party interested in buying the property expressed interest in about 425 acres.

Melfi said the 425 acres have been appraised, but he would not say how much the property is worth.

Councilman Tom Seidler said the plan displayed by the individual was interesting to city officials, but state law mandates that any publicly owned property be put out for bid before being sold.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator ando n Vindy.com