ASD School Property Reuse Effort Receives $1.5 Million State Grant

A pair of State representatives is aiding the Armstrong School District in their building reuse efforts.

Friday, State Representative Jeff Pyle and State Senator Don White announced a $1.5 million state grant given to the Armstrong County Industrial Development Council (ACIDC) will bolster efforts to reuse three former school properties closed upon the opening of Armstrong Junior-Senior High School in Manor Township.

Vacant school properties include the former Ford City Junior/Senior High, Kittanning Junior High and Kittanning Senior High.

“These buildings are deteriorating and are a financial drain for the school district as taxpayers must continue to pay for insurance, upkeep and security for these structures,” Senator White said in a press release. “This grant will help bring the sites back to a higher and better use.”

Representative Pyle added that the grant enables ACIDC, County and school district officials to possibly consider options for the reuse of the three school sites.

“Old school properties, especially ones with buildings that are in poor condition, usually present significant challenges for redevelopment by the private sector,” said Representative Pyle.

Armstrong School District Superintendent Chris DeVivo added that the grant “will help implement whatever plan that the local officials ultimately select.”

In 2015, the Armstrong School District engaged Fourth River Consulting to conduct a highest and best-use analysis for the vacated Kittanning and Ford City schools. Retail and office space uses were evaluated, but the study concluded that a residential use targeting the senior adult population is also a viable potential use of the properties.

Senator White added that reuse of the former schools would further complement redevelopment efforts in both boroughs, as Kittanning has undertaken several major downtown revitalization projects and Ford City has targeted its riverfront area with its efforts.

“These former schools are right in the heart of both Ford City and Kittanning,” said Senator White. “Right now they are sitting vacant and that represents a missed opportunity for our region. Reuse of these properties will complement the revitalization efforts that are well underway in both towns. This can be another important step in that process.”

In August, TREK Development President William Gatti, Jr. proposed for the Ford City Junior/Senior High and Kittanning Junior High school buildings to both be demolished and townhouses to be built after the firm was not able to find a way to historically preserve the school buildings.

Preliminary plans including building two dozen, two-story townhouses for either families or seniors – with a fixed rent of an estimated $650 per month – to sit alongside both 4th Avenue and North McKean Street.

Gatti, Jr. said at that time that a formal purchase offer has not been made, but the firm is prepared to “if there’s general consensus.”

5 Comments

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  By jorn jensen, October 3, 2016 @ 7:48 AM

  Funny how these buildings become the towns’ and taxpayers’ problems due to lack of forethought on the part of the school board.

  Make them into business and industry incubators. Use the $1.5 million to modern wire them and make utilities separate. Solicit a ‘walk-to’ grocery store for the first level of Ford City HS. Possibly same for the Kittanning sites.

  If townhuses are a good idea, instead of spending the money to tear down a building like Ford City HS (who will pay for that demo?), go build the townhouses on the brownfield site by the river - the demo is already completed.
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  By futureconcerned, October 3, 2016 @ 10:37 AM

  So we use taxpayer funds (grants) to tear down the buildings so that an Out Of County Developer can build on the sites and take the income to Indiana County. Then the developer gets reduced property taxes to develop the townhouses. These townhouses pull the tenants that are best able to afford to pay rent from the existing landlords who will still be expected to pay the full tax rate for their now vacant properties. This makes as much sense as the Boroughs making the landlords responsible for their tenant’s water and sewage bills. The Utilities have no reason to cut off the water after the first month of non-payment, they just bill the landlord. The money the landlord could have used to improve their property does to paying a deadbeat’s bills. And the cycle continues to destroy the towns. Use the grant to demolish the buildings; sell the property with the same tax incentives available for any other new build in the county.
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  By Watchingfromadistance, October 3, 2016 @ 2:25 PM

  What concerns me is, who is going to administer the grant? You know that if Kittanning Borough does, money will be hoarded to pave a street, or to keep the Market Street revitalization going (which I still think is a waste of tax payer money.) Or, Ford City will run through it willy nilly to put up cameras, fund thier police, etc. Finally, if the ASD administers it themselves, it will surely be used to buy turf, bleachers, or some other frivilous study. I would like to see some type of development as well as anyone else. But mark my word,one of these entities will surely misuse the money. Don’t believe me, take a look back at their last blunders!
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  By mcfee, October 3, 2016 @ 5:20 PM

  Doesn’t surprise me that White has found some money for the area when he’s up for re-election.
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  By Elderton Parent, October 4, 2016 @ 10:47 AM

  Oh but White and Pyle do not get involved in anything to do with the schools. Really?
  mcfee and others, you all “get it.” White is up for re-election, he needs to retire and become the next Norm from Cheers.
  All of this so they can get that football stadium. SMDH

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