Hempfield OKs home purchase for $290K, with plans for demolition imminent

Hempfield supervisors this week signed off on the purchase of a home for $290,000 that will be demolished as part of a project to align the township’s new municipal complex with the Five Star Trail.

The township will lease the Summit Drive property to its current owner for $1 until Oct. 31. Township Manager Aaron Siko said the lease will allow the property owner, James R. Poli, time to find a new place to live.

“He was a cooperative partner throughout this entire process,” Siko said.

A $1.76 million state grant was awarded to the township to realign Spruce Street where Poli’s property sits at the intersection with Summit Drive and Rugh Street just off the Cedar Street exit of Route 30 west. The realignment will include creating a shared lane for bicycles from the complex along Rugh Street to Broad Street and connect with the Five Star Trail.

Siko said the property was appraised and the price tag includes the fair market value in addition to extra money as consideration for the owner agreeing to sell. Most of the cost was being paid through the grant, and the township chipped in $50,000. The money is from the state Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Fund.

Poli could not be reached Tuesday. He bought the property for $254,900 two years ago, according to the deed.

Supervisor Doug Weimer said the plan is to create a better intersection among Summit Drive and Spruce and Rugh streets.

“We were lucky to be able to work with the homeowner to be able to make a better traffic pattern,” he said. “It’s another piece to the puzzle in this major investment in municipal and recreational space.”

Siko anticipated closing on the property in about 60 days.

Supervisors also approved the acquisition of 1,826 square feet of vacant land along Weatherwood Lane to construct a sidewalk from Mt. Pleasant Road leading to the complex. Siko said the township will pay $1 for the land.

The 43-acre multimillion-dollar municipal complex will hold township offices, a park and an emergency command headquarters off Weatherwood Lane and Mt. Pleasant Road. Work started there in August. The project’s first phase will be the construction of a 14-acre park with a splash pad, pavilion and a nature area with fitness amenities.