Jul 14, 2014 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – A lengthy discussion on downtown Waynesburg was held at Monday’s meeting of Waynesburg Borough Council spurred by the demolition of the old county office building.

During a meeting that drew a full house to council chambers, several residents and property owners spoke about the loss of the building, blaming the borough for not preventing its demolition and for allowing Waynesburg University to have too much control over the borough’s affairs.

Others, including several council members, said there was nothing council could have done to prevent the building being razed. They cited the many years the building had remained vacant and also defended Waynesburg University, speaking of the benefits the university brings to the community.

Mary Beth Pastorius, who owns several businesses on High Street, said the borough could have prevented the building’s loss.

“Because you did not have proper protections in place, you succumbed to the pressure of an aggressive university operating in secrecy to take advantage of the relations it has in the community for its own gain,” she said.

“We, your citizens and taxpayers, are here to remind you that you have many stakeholders, not just one,” she said.

The building’s demolition, Pastorius said, will result in the loss of tax revenue and a “valuable” cultural asset. It will leave another vacant lot on High Street that will only discourage future investment in downtown Waynesburg.

Pastorius said the borough failed to provide any means for public input regarding the building’s demolition, nor did it require the university to state its intended use for the property, as required by the zoning ordinance.

Robert Linn, an attorney for the university, responded that the university complied with all legal requirements in obtaining a permit to demolish the building. The university has made “substantial contributions” to the community and feels it is in the best interest of the community for the building to be razed, he said.

Several councilmen noted the decision to raze the building was out of council’s control. “Borough council could have done nothing to change what happened,” council president Charles Berryhill said.

The university is an integral part of the community and contributes to the borough by continuing to pay taxes on some tax-exempt properties as well by helping the borough purchase police cars, he said.

“Not a member here profits from what the university does,” nor is there pressure exerted by the university on council, he said.

Councilman Dar Fitch said the building was unsafe and had to be torn down. Resident Jeff McCracken also noted nobody had done anything with the building for years and it was time for it to go. But he also spoke about the good work the university did in restoring the old Waynesburg armory.

Pastorius told council she spoke with a developer interested in the building about two years ago but was told then it was not available because the university wanted it. She said the borough also failed to assist the building’s owner, John McNay, and a contractor who last year proposed to convert the building into apartments.

Councilman Miles Davin said, however, that council did what it could to help with the project noting it had approved an agreement that would have allow the developers to sublease a borough lot from the county.

Sally Cameron, who owns the Fashion Shop, spoke of the importance of having other retail establishments on High Street to help generate retail traffic. Empty lots do nothing to help create foot traffic for retail businesses, she said.

Cameron also said she believes a “better bridge” or forum is needed to hold a discussion on what can be done to help maintain Waynesburg’s downtown.

Others seemed to agree and the conversation shifting to what the borough could do to have a sign posted on Interstate 79 indicating the direction to downtown Waynesburg.

Pastorius said there are ways for the borough to assist downtown businesses that want to restore their properties. It’s not an easy process, she said, “but it takes everybody to be on the same page.”

Berryhill also spoke of the lack of residents’ involvement in council matters, saying the number of people in attendance Monday was the most he has seen at a meeting in years. Councilman Mark Fischer urged those in attendance who have concerns regarding the borough to become involved as the borough begins revising its comprehensive plan.