WARREN, Pa. – Warren City Council on Monday approved a motion to have city staff try to acquire title or an easement to the land behind the HIY, Inc. building on the Allegheny riverfront, as well as a concrete pad adjacent to the riverfront townhouses.
The motion came during Monday’s special meeting, which also included a “definite postponement” of a $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant to fix a geothermal system along the riverfront.
The property belongs to developer Robert Yoder, who expressed to the council earlier this month that he’s willing to cede the property to the city, but he wanted the $500,000 to fix the geothermal system as well.
Council ultimately decided that the two items should be separate.
“I would like to thank the WCCBI and city staff for all their hard work into river development, and I believe council should try to acquire these properties,” said Councilman John Wortman. “I believe they have benefit to the city and that we could enhance our community by making improvements to these locations. I do not feel the arrangement put forth by Mr. Yoder is in the best interest of the City of Warren.”
Councilman Maurice Cashman said that the action presented to the council was simply to acquire the title.
“I think that action is worthy of approving at his juncture,” he said. “We’re not saying how we would acquire it. We should continue to work with Mr. Yoder. You have to remember too that there are some things you do that have intrinsic value to our citizens and tourists that would bring economic impact. We’re spending money, we’re doing things, but it’s all to beautify the town and to make it more attractive.”
Mayor Dave Wortman raised several concerns when it came to the geothermal system.
“We have so many different entities that are part of a concerted effort to do something great on the riverfront,” he said. “But we also have a fiduciary responsibility as stewards of the RACP funding. I have some concerns about the use of that funding for this system specifically.”
Cashman said that “private funding is more appropriate,” in regards to Yoder trying to acquire the monies for the geothermal upgrade.