Apr 3, 2014 2 min read

South Fayette Township commissioners recently passed a resolution to take possession of a 69-acre portion of property at 1601 Mayview Road, adjacent to Fairview Park.

The property is part of the former Mayview State Hospital site owned by Aloe Brothers.

The resolution approved March 19 states that the township is taking the property by eminent domain “for use as a park as authorized by sections 1901 and 3001 of the First Class Township Code.” According to Section 1901 of the code, which outlines the township’s right to exercise eminent domain, a township can take property for many reasons, including “the establishing of parks, playgrounds and recreation places.”

Eminent domain is defined as the right of a government to take private property for public use.

“The resolution has authorized the taking of that property for public use related to the park,” said South Fayette Township Manager Ryan Eggleston.

Prior to passing the resolution, the township was in negotiations with Aloe Brothers for the property. According to minutes from September’s township parks and recreation board meeting, the asking price for the property was $1.4 million. Aloe Brothers paid $505,505 in 2011 for the nearly 160-acre site of the former state hospital along Mayview Road in South Fayette.

Eggleston said the township was in negotiation with Aloe Brothers for the property for “longer than a few months.”

“We feel it’s necessary to have that property to enlarge Fairview Park to continue to meet the growing needs of the township,” Eggleston said. He said because South Fayette is a growing community, there is a need for more green space and recreational fields.

Eggleston said there will be “some type of remuneration” to Aloe Brothers for the property. “There is payment involved,” he said.

Aloe Brothers could not be reached for comment.