Land sale interests housing authority

Developers have been showing interest in the Westmoreland County Housing Authority headquarters property located near a growing Hempfield Township business district. Authority members are thinking about cashing in.

There have been no offers made, but authority Executive Director Michael Washowich told his board of directors on Tuesday that developers have been asking about the land. The 55-acre grounds near the intersection of Route 30 and South Greengate Road in Hempfield Township contain administrative offices but no public housing.

"As time goes on, I'm starting to get more and more calls," he said, adding he wanted to get a feel for whether his board would allow a sale.

No decision to sell was made. Board members directed Washowich to explore the options.

"We can maybe enhance the development of this area," said Treasurer Alvin Ansani.

"I don't think we should close the doors on anything," added Vice Chairman Fred Naccarato.

Asked where the headquarters would move, Washowich said it would be premature to speculate. He said it's unknown whether the authority would sell a portion of the land or the entire 55 acres if it sold any of the land at all.

The site is adjacent to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County headquarters, which sold for $6 million last year. Plans are to turn the municipal authority property into Lincoln Place, a retail area made up of a 15,000-square-foot Walgreens, another 12,000-square-foot building for retail space and three other buildings to house big-box retailers.

Across Route 30 from the development is Greengate Centre, a commercial area that replaced the former Greengate Mall.

Deputy Executive Director Walter Kaminski said authority Solicitor Gene Ferace should investigate what type of constraints there would be if the public entity sold land to the private sector.

"It's complicated," he said.