Community Input Needed to Determine Former Schools’ Future

by Jonathan Weaver

A few months after a Kittanning feasibility study began, locally-elected leaders took the next step.

Kittanning Borough Council members are in the planning stages of a community public hearing to discuss the futures of both the former-Kittanning Junior High and Kittanning Senior High buildings.

Both schools (with the junior high located along North McKean Street and the senior high along Orr Avenue, respectively) have sat idle since Armstrong School District closed the schools following the 2014-15 school year. Students have merged with those from Ford City Junior/Senior High to attend Armstrong Junior/Senior High in nearby Manor Township.

Councilman Gerald Shuster motioned for the public hearing to be held in three weeks.

“Decisions are imminent – not so much of the project and what’s going to happen to them but what can be done and in terms of how we can generate money because that’s what is imminent,” Shuster said. “We’re on a calendar in terms of the State availability for funding.”

In April, Shuster motioned for a feasibility study on the former senior high school after residents at a community revitalization meeting opined that they wanted to turn the school info a community asset rather than let it sit. At that meeting, Shuster said the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would be able to look into repurposing the property at nearly-no cost and potentially put it back on the tax rolls.

“There is a feasibility study, and lots of good things are occurring there. But, we don’t want to limit ideas,” Shuster said. “I think it would be ill-advised that the Borough pursues any specific, definite direction. I think the community needs to look at and provide ideas much like they did for Kittanning Cottages because there were major changes made as a result of community input and I think that could happen again.”

Shuster said TREK Development – the firm that constructed the 24-unit Kittanning Cottages on the site of the former Armstrong Campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania – would give his insight into future uses in a few weeks.

Consequently, Shuster recognized TREK Development President William Gatti, Jr. as one of only two developers interested in not only the property, but also with an idea.

In October 2011, Gatti, Jr. was “thrilled” upon Kittanning Cottages’ completion.

The Kittanning Cottages property is under a LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act) – meaning taxes increases 10 percent each year until the full rate is paid – whereas the former senior high and junior high properties were designated as Keystone Opportunity Zones.

Last year, school board directors also heard from Fourth Economy Consulting of Pittsburgh Vice President of Community and Market Assessments Stephen McKnight – who said the former senior high has potential for both commercial and residential use due to its size, targeting “empty-nesters’ or assisted-living residents.

While Shuster’s motion was seconded and ultimately approved, he said Borough officials must move quickly.

“We need to get in right away to make sure that Kittanning’s input is felt with regard to both of these projects,” Shuster concluded. “We need to be sure that whatever happens to them, (Kittanning) is in some sort of control over the direction it takes for the future.”

County commissioners, Senator Don White and other interested parties/residents will also be invited to attend and give input.

The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 24, but a time or location has not yet been determined.

In other business, there will be no garbage collection Monday, September 5 due to the Labor Day holiday. The September public meeting will be held on Monday, September 13, 2016 at 7PM.

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