Atlas, stadium sale gets judge’s approval
A Washington County judge Thursday gave the go-ahead for Charleroi Area School District to sell the former football stadium and Atlas building in downtown Charleroi.
Judge Damon Faldowski’s granting of the district’s petition to sell “unused and unnecessary lands and buildings” means it can move forward with transferring the Atlas building at 138 McKean Ave. and the former Charleroi football stadium at 200 Second St. to the Mon Valley Alliance, an economic development nonprofit, for $1.
The Atlas building, a shuttered former discount store the district received through a donation in 2011, already is being razed by Monroeville contractor BJC Enterprises in a $114,852 demolition project.
In December, the panel that oversees distribution of the county’s share of state gaming funds recommended awarding $252,000 for the alliance to level the stadium, which is next to a boat launch, and prepare the site for a riverfront park.
Faldowski held a hearing Wednesday during which real estate appraiser and consultant Anthony Barna testified the structures had a combined negative value of $107,000, and it would be unlikely the district could find an offer better than the nonprofit’s at a public sale.
Three district residents objected during the hearing, pointing to an oral offer the district received last year from a private company that was interested in purchasing the properties for $100,000.
Wendell H. Stone Co. made the offer in April but said it was contingent on the stadium property remaining designated as “heavy industrial” under the zoning ordinance. The borough amended the ordinance in May, redesignating it as part of a “redevelopment district.”
One of the dissenters, Larry Hopkins, told Faldowski the “only winner (in the deal) is the Mon Valley Alliance.”
But Charleroi Area solicitor Todd Pappasergi asserted the group’s offer was fair, pointing out Stone didn’t make additional offers to buy the properties.
Among the witnesses he called to make the case the deal was in the district’s interest was school board President Ken Wiltz.
“Based on the vision of what the alliance wants to do, I think it more than benefits the district,” Wiltz testified.