MARS — Borough council voted to put a former church building at 524 Pittsburgh St. up for sale during its meeting Monday, May 6.

The borough spent years trying to find a use for the building before ultimately deciding to pass the responsibility to someone else.

“We’re not using it for any specific purpose, and we’re going to put it up for bid,” Council President G. Michael Fleming said.

“I think this is the council trying to figure out what’s best for the community in terms of continuing to care for the church,” Mayor Gregg Hartung said.

The borough purchased the property in November 2019 for $325,000, as part of a package deal which also included two parking lots and a building on Arch Street which now serves as the borough’s municipal building.

Previously, the church was an auxiliary building of Dutilh United Methodist Church, which is based in Cranberry Township. While the main church in Cranberry is still operating, the Mars church stopped holding services in April 2018.

“We’re going to put the effort into continued improvements on this primary building,” Fleming said, referring to the municipal building.

This February, the borough council accepted a bid from You Name It Contracting to make necessary repairs to the structure for $10,500. Those renovations will still take place, according to council member Brad Price.

Bids for the property are due by 3 p.m. on June 17.