New Castle will buy property for industrial development

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — City council has agreed to buy the former Shenango China plant at the Riverview Commerce Park on the city’s West Side.

Lawmakers agreed to pay property owner David Choi, through his business Realities USA Inc., $850,000.

Choi, who is based in Ontario, Canada, has owned the 34-acre property since November 1996.

City officials said they had the property appraised at $850,000 and that plans involve demolishing the vacant portion of the building and making the property available for industrial development.

The city intends to use part of a $1 million Infrastructure Development Program grant to buy the property.

The city has another $500,000 available from a Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project grant for the demolition.

Shenango Refractories and Fairfield Confectionary, a chocolate maker, occupy part of the building.