Slippery Rock Borough Council moves toward Main Street lot sale
SLIPPERY ROCK — A borough-owned lot along Slippery Rock’s Main Street is moving toward a sale, with hopes of being able to preserve the lot’s current community-oriented usages.
The lot was previously placed for bid twice and received no offers. However, an exception in the bidding policy allowed council to consider two interested parties in private — revealed at the Tuesday, April 1, meeting to be NexTier Bank and Great Living LLC — the borough’s choice to move forward.
“If you don’t receive bids within 15 days of the second advertisement, then you can engage in private negotiation for the sale of that property,” township solicitor Rebecca Black explained.
Black said council was told about the exception by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. Council moved forward with this option, which allows the two parties, and their offers, to stay private. However, after the announcement a buyer has been found, council must wait 30 days before any formal action toward selling the property is taken.
Regardless of the afforded anonymity, Clem Rosenberger, president and CEO of NexTier Bank, asked council to reconsider his offer for the lot.
“Hearing that the council has decided to sell the property, it sounds like preserving it as a green space is off the table. I think NexTier Bank’s offer allows for some of that community partnership to continue to happen on the property,” Rosenberger said.
Rosenberger explained that NexTier Bank’s offer was for $300,000 and the donation of the current bank location on Main Street.
The council declined Rosenberger’s offer to reconsider, both on legal grounds and confidence in their decision to move forward with the other party. One of the concerns raised by council was NexTier Bank’s plan to construct a drive-through on the lot.
“My biggest concerns is the congestion. That is already a very congested intersection,” Councilwoman Alexandra Tuten said. “The idea of putting a drive-through in that corner, to me, I can see a lot of our community being very upset by that.”
Council members expressed the deal with Great Living LLC to be the ideal one for the preservation of community space and the feel of Slippery Rock’s Main Street.
The lot, officially designated as 100 S. Main St., is at the intersection of Main and New Castle streets. It is also frequently used by the borough for community events and serves as the spot for the town’s Christmas tree.
The current deal between the borough and Great Living LLC is on track to be finalized in coming months.
The next Slippery Rock Borough Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 15.
