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Buildings on block

School District will decide fate of former elementary buildings in Clarendon, Sheffield

A mostly empty school building could soon house municipal offices, a veterans center, and housing for homeless vets.

At the June meeting of the Warren County school board, there will be action on the former Allegheny Valley Elementary School property.

Clarendon Borough Mayor Tom Eaton addressed the board during the physical plant and facilities committee on Tuesday to again ask for some kind of action.

Currently, the building houses a Head Start program and is the site for the district’s backpack program for students in need.

The borough would like to take over the building and playground.

In addition to borough offices, the structure would then be expected to include spaces for veterans groups, housing for homeless veterans, and continue providing the location for Head Start.

“The borough will maintain the playground, the voting stations, and all the offices,” Eaton said.

He provided some updated material on Tuesday.

He said there is an interest among fire department officials in creating a helicopter landing pad on the property.

The property is zoned residential, Eaton said. The borough would be looking to have that classification changed to business transitional.

In order to successfully reclassify, the borough would have to present its case to the Warren County Planning Commission which would then give a recommendation to the county commissioners, who would make the final decision, according to Warren County Zoning Officer Michael Lyon.

The board met with Solicitor Chris Byham in executive session to discuss the possibilities for the real estate deal.

“The one question I have is whether or not we’re gifting it,” board member Marcy Morgan said. “If we gift it, the purpose and use is determined. There are restrictions.”

“The board has some options on how to proceed,” Superintendent Amy Stewart said. “If it is gifted, it has to be for a very specific purpose.”

Morgan said she wants to make sure “whoever takes over at Allegheny Valley is going to be able to use it for what they want.”

Board member Jeff Labesky made a motion to follow through with one of two options at the June school board meeting: “that it will go out for bid” or “be gifted to the Clarendon Borough.”

“We’re going to vote on it one way or another,” Morgan said.

SES

The old Sheffield Elementary School building is on the block.

“Based upon the interest of some folks that were communicating with us, we did put Sheffield Elementary out to bid,” Stewart said.

“Bids are due June 5.”

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