BLAIRSVILLE--Grater Grene, a new residential development along Rt. 119 in Burrell Township, is close to completion. According to Maryellen Reeder, acquisition specialist for Stern Properties which is in charge of the property, at least 13 properties out of 36 lots in Grater Grene have been sold or are currently under contract. Lots in Grater Grene will be located on both sides of Rt. 119. Most of the residential developments however, will be on the east side of the road, just south of the old Burrell Elementary School. 'At the end of May beginning of June, we looked at the Huntingdon and Indiana areas in Pennsylvania,' said Reeder. 'I stayed in hotels (in Burrell Township) for a while to see more of the area, and I liked Indiana better than Huntingdon. 'I see a lot of growth potential here,' said Reeder. 'There are two key things about Burrell Township. One, I think it's a beautiful area. Another is the highway expansion. When the widening of Rt. 119 is completed, I think you'll see a lot of people from Pittsburgh and Monroeville relocate here that don't mind driving 45 minutes from where they work.' 'We hope that (Grater Grene) causes a chain reaction as other developers discover what we already know: That Burrell Township is a great community to live in and raise a family.' said Dick Shirley, Chairman of Burrell Township Board of Supervisors. 'We have a tremendous workforce and good schools here. And best of all, we have a friendly community. People still wave to you when you drive by. You don't see that in the world very much anymore.' Reeder said Mark Stern, secretary/treasurer of Stern Properties, liked Burrell Township not only because of its growth potential, but because of its close proximity to IUP. Stern's two daughters attend college there and are members of the soccer team. According to Reeder, it will be two weeks until the sewer line in Grater Grene is finished and a month until the water line is completed. 'The whole infrastructure will be done within the next month,' she said, adding that although people may purchase land in the development now, they will have to wait at least a month to start building their homes on the lots. 'After the infrastructure is complete and we get final approval, we'll do a big kickoff called The Old-Fashioned Land Rush,' said Reeder. Scheduled for Sunday, The Old-Fashioned Land Rush will be somewhat of an open house for Grater Grene. Those attending the event will have the opportunity to purchase land at special discount. 'Bankers have been invited and they will be on hand to answer questions,' said Reeder. 'And if people are curious and just want to come and see what's going on, it's okay for them to come to the event, too. I want everybody to know the positive effects that Grater Grene will have on the community.' 'My views on Grater Grene is that they are a blessing to Burrell Township,' said Shirley. 'We as a board of supervisors are very supportive of the project and approve of Mark (Stern) seeing the value of Burrell Township. 'When we were first contacted by Mark Stern we saw an opportunity to replace a falling in the tax structure created by the Rt. 119 widening. 'At the same time we wanted to meet residents that are effected by the construction in their needs for a place to live.' Shirley said those who purchase a lot and build a home in the Grater Grene development will have the opportunity to choose how much backyard or front yard space they really want. 'They didn't have that option before,' said Shirley. 'Their front yards were taken by Rt. 119.'

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