Couple is on the trail to remodeling Cecil rental complex
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Jim and Daryl Stollar stand in front of one of seven buildings that make up the townhomes of Stonecrest Townhomes in Cecil.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Randall Sheppard Jr., a remodeler for JAS Investments, works on finishing a utility room of a townhome.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
The entrance to one of the Stonecrest townhomes
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
The bathroom inside a townhome
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
A townhome bedroom
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
The kitchen of a townhome
Jim Stollar’s first impression was a worst impression.
“It was really bad around here,” he said, gazing at the nearby Cecil Township landscape where he and his wife, Daryl, purchased seven buildings two years ago. Debris was scattered about and the residential rental properties were in disrepair, many unoccupied with leaky roofs. The units, which date to the 1970s or ’80s, sat in a complex off McConnell Road.
That is changing. The Stollars, a Canton Township couple, are in the process of remodeling six of the buildings and rebranding them into Stonecrest Townhomes & Apartments. They got cracking last fall, working with roofers and other workers to transform the spaces into 24 units, all spacious enough to comfortably accommodate a small family. Plans are for each to have two stories, two bedrooms, a bath and what the owners believe to be affordable rent. All will have new roofs.
Each of these structures will have a new roof and feature four units. The units will be fully electric – no gas – and will feature central air conditioning and high-efficiency windows. Garages will be nonexistent, but each unit will have two parking spaces.
Finishing touches are being applied to the first rental, which will go for $975 a month.
“Basically, we’re modernizing,” said Jim, head of JAS Investments LLC in Washington and a real estate professional for two decades. “We didn’t take things apart structurally. We added new windows and doors and we want to make it attractive, a little nicer, by touching up. We say we are ‘Stollarizing’ it.”
Jim, who has offices on East Maiden Street and at home, admitted that “I wish we were farther along.” But, he added, “I’m pleased with how it’s turning out.”
He is well aware that projects take time. Stollar has been a real estate investor and property manager for 13 years, and owns properties in Washington, East Washington, Canton and now Cecil.
This latest venture is centrally situated, about a mile off Klinger Road, tucked away between Southpointe, Interstate 79, Muse-Bishop Road and Route 50 – essentially the heart of the township. Cecil is among the fastest-growing communities in Washington County, its population accelerating for the better part of two decades. The township population, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, was 11,271 – a 16 percent leap from 9,756 in 2000. Today’s figure is likely between 12,000 and 13,000.
Having lower taxes than neighboring Allegheny County, easy accessibility to I-79 and other major highways, and a bounty of job possibilities in Southpointe and Southpointe II are among attractions that have spearheaded the drive for increased housing in Cecil.
“We’re eight minutes from Bridgeville, five to eight minutes from Canonsburg, 20 minutes from Washington, 15 minutes from The Meadows,” Jim said.
Another appealing geographic feature: the Montour Trail, a jewel for hikers and bikers, runs nearby – directly behind the complex.
“It’s nice being this close to the trail,” Daryl said.
The Stollars, who have two daughters and three granddaughters, operate as a comfortable unit as well.
“I’m into decorating, he’s into budget,” Daryl said.
“My plan is more to buy, and her plan is for me to sell,” Jim said.
Their plan also includes having these six buildings ready for occupancy by year’s end, although the realist in Jim understands that legal issues, paperwork and unforeseen delays frequently are part of the equation. So some may not be available until 2019.
Stollar is saving that seventh building for last, saying that will require more work. He also plans to add storage units in the complex “down the road.”
Plans call for 36 rental properties overall, most of which will be townhomes. About a dozen will be designated as apartments.
Daryl and Jim are tackling an ambitious endeavor, but doing so eagerly. “We (already own) apartment buildings,” Jim said, “but this is the biggest project we’ve gotten into.”
They believe it is in an ideal location, though, and everyone knows how real estate people feel about location.