Busy Night for Lock Haven City Council

Commercial/Residential Building Proposed for old Town Tavern/Heilig-Myers
Properties; Restaurant Eyed at Former City Garage Site


By Scott Johnson

LOCK HAVEN – It was a packed Council Chamber for a packed City Council agenda Monday night, highlighted by the proposed redevelopment of two city-owned properties, and the swearing-in of a new council member along with three new city police officers.

Regarding the city-owned properties, both were transfer ownership of the property from the city to the City Redevelopment Authority to allow them to either enter into an agreement or pursue an agreement with developers at 2 E. Walnut St. and 37-55 Bellefonte Ave., respectively. The latter vote involved the former Heilig-Myers and Town Tavern properties. The city excavated both properties last year. The vote was for the authority to “pursue agreement for sale of $65,000 or greater to Davis/Yoder for construction of (a) three-story commercial (building.) First floor commercial, floors two-three residential at market rate.”

City Manager Greg Wilson explained the transfer allows the authority to continue negotiations on the development of that site. “Then, they can renegotiate a higher price,” Wilson said, adding the negotiations currently have a three-year window on the development of the project.

Council member Steve Stevenson noted the three-year window is important considering the never-built restaurant that was included with The Shaner Group’s purchase of the former Painter Stadium behind McDonald’s. “Shaner did a big switch on us with the restaurant and other things,” he said.

The property at 2 E. Walnut St. is the former City Public Works Garage area, which is no longer needed with the city’s purchase of the former PennDOT Maintenance Building on Second Avenue a few years ago. Council’s vote was to allow the authority to “enter into agreement for sale for $200,000 to Vasis Inc.” Wilson said the intention is to build a restaurant at that site.
In both instances, Wilson said, all proceeds from the sales will go to the city.

Further, he said, both properties were appraised and the combined total of the two pending sales are above what the city paid to demolish both. In addition, he noted they would come back onto the tax rolls and increase employment in the city.

Two other areas were transferred to the authority: One is at 615 E. Park St., which Wilson said is land that can’t be build on; and the “Drake Site,” off of Myrtle Street near the railroad tracks. Wilson said that land cannot be built upon nor disturbed, but Wilson said the authority “has a party interested in it.”

In more property issues:
 Council approved buying by eminent domain the “air above the property” at the corner of Church and Grant streets. Specifically, it is to remove a tree that is eight feet higher than the glide path into Piper Memorial Airport. Wilson explained this was one of six “aviation air easements” the Federal Aviation Administration required for continued use of the airport. All properties were assessed and the city offered the assessed value to all respective owners. All but one agreed, he said, adding the assessed value of the one lone hold-out was $1,000. The amount of the “eminent domain” will be determined in court. “If we run an airport, we have to do it safely,” Stevenson said. “If he’s not going to bargain with us, we need to take him to court.”

Council agreed to declare the lease of 11 acres of land at the airport to Anadarko Marcellus Midstream abandoned if a new lease for the site is obtained with Coastal Defense, which intends to do a 25-year minimum lease. Wilson explained Coastal Defense currently rents Hangar 2 from the airport. It intends on building a new $1 million hangar on that property. It would still rent out Hangar 2.

Wilson said terms are still being negotiated and the rent paid to the city would basically be the assessed value of the land. “As the taxable value goes up, so would the rent,” he said. “It would mean more business at the airport and new jobs.”

Three New City Officers Sworn In

For the swearing-in, Mayor Joel Long swore-in new police officers Gabe Fischer, Cynthia Griffin and Joseph Katalinas.

Masorti Sworn in as Newest City Council Member

Also, Long swore-in new council member Barbara Masorti, who was the only candidate for the empty seat. As is the custom, Masorti, a Democrat, takes over for Democrat Long, who is now mayor. “Thank you so very much for this honor. I feel very fortunate to be here with you,” she said after, literally, sitting in Long’s vacated seat.

All votes were unanimous and all council members were present.