Greensburg train station sold

The Westmoreland Cultural Trust has sold the historic train station in Greensburg to a private developer after more than 20 years operating and renovating the site.

The trust and StoneKim Properties LLC of New Stanton began negotiating the sale of the station in mid-summer, according to cultural trust President Mike Langer.

The price paid for the property, formally called the PNC Station at Greensburg, has not been disclosed.

StoneKim Properties co-owner Kirk Kim said he has had his eye on the building for more than 20 years, and jumped at the chance to purchase it.

“I had heard through the grapevine that the cultural trust was thinking about getting rid of it, and I thought it was a good investment and a great property,” he said.

All of the building's tenants — Amtrak, The Supper Club restaurant, state Rep. Tim Krieger, Westmoreland Health Group and Abby DeBlassio's law offices — will remain, Kim said.

“We're not looking to change anything at this stage of the game. Nothing whatsoever,” he said.

The trust has owned the train station since 1993, and has spent more than $3.5 million restoring it to its original 1910 look.

However, the trust has been “a little too spread out” lately, Langer said.

“It's not in our mission to actually own and operate, although we have for about 20 years,” he said.

By selling the train station, the trust will be able to focus its efforts on improving the increasingly popular Palace Theatre in Greensburg, he said.

StoneKim has taken control of the station, although the trust will help manage it for the next few weeks during the transition period, Langer said.

As part of the sale agreement, StoneKim agreed to preserve the historical look and architectural integrity of the station.

The company also will have to keep the name of the station the same until at least 2032. PNC bought the naming rights in 2012 for $300,000.

Kim said with the growth of Seton Hill University and the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, the city is ripe for development.

“Greensburg is a quaint little town, the county seat, and quite frankly I think everyone can benefit from development if it's done properly.”

Kim also owns The Olde Spitfire Grille, Stonewater Bar and Spitfire Apartments in South Greensburg, and the St. John Inn, a hotel in the Virgin Islands. His partner is Greg Stone, of Stone & Co., a concrete company with locations across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Kay Kim, Kirk's wife, will manage the station.

The sale of the more than 16,000-square-foot building also included the two acres of land it sits on, with its two train platforms and more than 55 parking spaces.

The train station at Greensburg was used for freight and passengers from 1911 until the late 1940s, but slumping business stopped passenger travel in the late 1960s.

Amtrak brought back service in 1977, the same year the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Pittsburgh's History and Landmarks Foundation recognized the PNC Train Station at Greensburg with a plaque for its architectural and historical significance in May.

Jacob Tierney is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.