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Building Permit Issued for Eastland Development
By Kristen Keleschenyi
The Tube City Almanac
March 24, 2021
Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
Development of the former Eastland Mall property is getting closer to becoming a reality.
North Versailles Twp. commissioners announced during their March meeting that a building permit has been issued to Benderson Development Co., the owner of the former mall site on East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard.
It has been rumored that the interested tenant is Amazon.com, although no official announcement has been made. The plan is to build a 142,386-square-foot distribution facility.
“They should have shovels in the ground in June or July,” Commissioner Allen Wagner said.
James Murray-Coleman, senior vice president with Trammell Crow Co., the real estate developer representing the interested tenant, this week confirmed the timeline announced at the March 18 meeting. He said the delay at this point is getting the necessary stormwater and traffic approvals.
In other business from this month’s meeting, commissioners approved expenses related to preparing the two township baseball fields for the spring season.
Plavchak Construction has been authorized to conduct infield repairs, remove vegetation and to spread mix and groom the infield at Crestas Park at a cost of $5,992.88. Similar work has been authorized at Fairhaven Field at a cost not to exceed $15,000.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, township resident Ron Harr, who lives near Fairhaven Park, asked the commissioners about the gate there and why it is never locked.
”I’m sure we spend a lot of money on the park. We spent a lot of money on that gate,” Harr said. “It’s never been locked since I’ve been there since ’97. It’s open 24/7. There’s cars down there at 2 o’clock in the morning.”
“We need to make sure all these gates are locked,” Commission President Frank Bivens said. He added that cameras have been ordered for the location.
During the engineer’s report, Dave Gilliland announced that the Green Valley School property will be divided into two parcels. The buyer, Wallick Asset Management, plans to repurpose the site as a senior living facility, according to township officials.
Wallick is not interested in the hillside to the left of the existing school building, officials said. Gilliland said splitting the property would comply with current township code.
The commissioners approved a motion to allow the township to begin taking garbage bill payments online. Information will be posted on the township website. The payments will be made through PayPal and will include a 3 percent fee for paying by credit or debit card.
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 March 24, 2021.
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