Aug 27, 2013 2 min read

Commissioners in South Fayette Township last week unanimously approved the sale of 2.6 acres of property to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Earlier this summer, UPMC purchased the land adjacent to the former Star City theater building for $1.65 million. The adopted resolution assures that the township is in compliance with the tax code.

In 2009, the township used bond issue money to purchase the Star City property for more than $5 million. Of the $1.65 million UPMC paid for the property, $647,539 can be attributed to that 2009 bond issue.

According to Wayne Gerhold, bond counsel for the township, South Fayette can use the money as it pleases. The township has several options for how to use the money such as putting it in the general fund, the capital improvement fund or placing it into a fund to help pay the debt service on the 2009 bond issue, which is about $550,000 a year. Gerhold said that the township owes about $7.2 million on the bond issue.

After the vote to ratify the sale, resident Stacy Kosky asked, “What does that mean?”

“The resolution doesn’t dictate how the money has to be spent,” said township manager Ryan Eggleston.

Commissioner Joe Horowitz said options for how the money will be spent will be discussed at future public meetings.

Children’s Hospital plans to build a new outpatient center at the site and move its present South Hills operation from Bethel Park.

Bob Fryer asked commissioners during the public comment portion of the meeting if the township is planning to widen an area of Washington Pike to help alleviate traffic coming from Bridgeville.

The local business owner said a 400-yard portion of the road is in desperate need of widening, especially with the addition of new retail developments in the township.

Fryer said the state Department of Transportation’s plan right now is to add one lane, which would be an exclusive right-turn lane to Interstate 79 to the bridge that connects Bridgeville with South Fayette.