TM(Advertisement)
Tube City Community Media Inc. is seeking freelance writers to help cover city council, news and feature stories in McKeesport, Duquesne, White Oak and the neighboring communities. High school and college students seeking work experience are encouraged to apply; we are willing to work with students who need credit toward class assignments. Please send cover letter, resume, two writing samples and the name of a reference (an employer, supervisor, teacher, etc. -- not a relative) to tubecitytiger@gmail.com.
Ads start at $1 per day, minimum seven days.
Projects Moving Forward in NV Twp.
Eastland Mall site, former Green Valley school targeted
By Kristen Keleschenyi
The Tube City Almanac
January 31, 2021
Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Progress is being made on a proposed distribution facility to be built at the former Eastland Mall site.
At the January meeting, North Versailles Twp. Commissioner Allen Wagner said he recently received an email from Trammell Crow Co., the Texas-based real estate developer that is representing the potential tenants.
The email said that Trammell Crow is pursuing necessary permits from Allegheny County and state agencies, but the pandemic has made acquiring these more difficult, Wagner said.
“As you know, these agencies, like everyone, have been affected by COVID, and timing is less predictable than it was last year at this time,” Trammell Crow told North Versailles in the email. “We are also coordinating with the utilities and arranging for service with those providers. We continue to hope to put a shovel in the ground in April or May and to finish the project by the first quarter of 2022.”
The identity of the tenant has not been disclosed either by the township or Trammell Crow.
However, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported that the tenant is Amazon.com, which wants the property for a distribution site.
The proposal includes building a 142,386-square foot facility on East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard. The land is currently owned by Benderson Development Co. of Buffalo, N.Y.
Eastland Mall closed in 2005 and was demolished in 2007.
Also moving forward, commissioners said, are plans to re-use Green Valley Elementary School as a senior living facility.
A public auction was held Jan. 11 and Wallick Asset Management, LLC, was the successful bidder to acquire the property for $399,000.
Wagner said there will be a township zoning hearing board hearing on Feb. 11 to consider a request for zoning variances for the project. East Allegheny Superintendent Alan Johnson said the sale is expected to be on the February school board meeting agenda.
In other business, commissioners voted to move Code Enforcement Officer Merle Pusey from part-time to full-time status, and also to renew the township’s contract with Sable Kennels for dog law enforcement at a cost of $300 per month. Both are effective on Feb. 1.
Fire tax payments were also issued to West Wilmerding Volunteer Fire Co. in the amount of $6,768.53 and to Crestas Volunteer Fire Co. in the amount of $2,714.23.
Kristen Keleschenyi is a freelance writer in North Versailles Twp. and one of the hosts of the Kristen & Amber Show on WMCK Internet Radio at 5 p.m. Saturdays, 9 p.m. Mondays and 4 p.m. Thursdays. She may be reached at kbishop25@hotmail.com.
Originally published January 31, 2021.
In other news:
"Furry Friends Essenti…" || "City Council Meeting …"