Times Observer photo by Delaney Chase Members of a local development group interested in redeveloping property at 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave. West are pictured speaking to the Warren Redevelopment Authority board on Wednesday.

The future of property at 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave. West is still very much in doubt.

At its meeting on Wednesday, the Redevelopment Authority reviewed new documentation from a development group seeking to move forward with plans for the 231-237 Pennsylvania Avenue West property, while signaling that demolition remains a possibility if plans do not advance.

Representatives of the group shared during the meeting that they had presented articles of incorporation, four letters of intent and insurance information. Final documents are under review by the organization’s attorney and are expected to be completed within days.

The group also reported that its application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation is being prepared and should be finalized soon. At last month’s meeting, group representative Ron Peterson indicated they expected to complete the 501(c)(3) filing quickly and establish a formal board within 30 days

Previously, the group had been directed by the RDA to provide documentation of nonprofit status, a list of board members, and letters of commitment from major anchor organizations before further consideration.

Among the anchor partners involved in shaping the proposal are Bee Courageous at Garden Grub, Sugar Bay and Create Community.

The group stated at a past RDA meeting that they had met with a representative of the Appalachian Regional Commission in Oil City to explore potential grant funding. However, members noted that the grant cycle does not begin until March.

Peterson spoke to the RDA and formally requested access to the property for an engineer to conduct a comprehensive assessment. While acknowledging that such a study would be costly, representatives said they are prepared to cover the expense but need approval from the RDA to enter the building.

Codes and Planning Director Randall Rossey indicated access could be arranged with appropriate liability waivers, similar to previous site visits.

RDA members requested profiles of key personnel and examples of similar project experience, noting that such information was required in the original request for proposals issued more than a year ago..

The board voted to invite the group back for its March meeting to allow time to review materials and receive updates on the nonprofit designation and leadership backgrounds.

The RDA regained possession of 231-237 Pennsylvania Avenue in October 2024 after the Eagles Crest development project collapsed amid lawsuits and funding issues. At its August meeting, the board unanimously voted to move forward with demolition due to public safety concerns but agreed to continue accepting redevelopment proposals through the end of 2025.

No proposals had been submitted as of September. Later that month, however, a group of Warren residents stepped forward at a regular meeting to express interest in redeveloping the site.

The authority also discussed next steps should it choose to proceed with demolition of the structures.

Officials recommended a four- to six-week bidding period and to begin the process as quickly as possible, since earlier bidding windows often attract more interest.

The authority discussed potentially preparing for demolition in parallel with the group’s proposal to ensure options remain open if redevelopment plans do not move forward. No final action on demolition was taken, though members expressed interest in revisiting the matter with additional information at a future meeting.