close

Developer pitches Trust Building project

4 min read
article image -

A developer with plans to transform the Washington Trust Building paid a return visit to the Local Share Account panel Monday with assurances he’s ready to launch the mixed-use project next year, with a somewhat different thrust than his 2012 plan.

Bill Gatti, of Pittsburgh-based Trek Development Group, was among 45 applicants who were seeking funding for economic and community development projects. The two-day vetting process, which continues today, will see 78 applicants requesting $24.7 million for their projects, with a total pricetag of $67.2 million.

Some will be rejected and few, if any, will receive all they seek. The available pot, funded by gaming revenue from The Meadows Casino, is about $7 million.

The money, which must be accompanied by matching funds from the applicant organizations, is to be used for economic development, community improvement and job training projects in the county.

Gatti’s project, which didn’t receive funding in 2012, seeks $500,000 in LSA funds for the $11 million project. He said the bulk of the match is coming from $8.6 million in private equity from the sale of tax credits.

Gatti, whose development group purchased the Trust Building from the Richman family in 2013, said he will add 24 apartments to the rear tower of the building. That’s down from the 45 units he originally proposed three years ago, he said, adding that it’s not the only thing that has changed.

This time, he was accompanied by Julie Throckmorton, foundation and corporate relations officer with Washington & Jefferson College. She said W&J is interested in developing a business incubator in the building that would be aimed at young professionals who want to launch businesses. Throckmorton said the space, which would include traditional offices with walls as well as open and shared spaces, would be available for rent to those who have recently graduated from college, as well as others in the community who want to start entrepreneurial projects.

Throckmorton said the college wants to work with economic development organizations in the county to bring the incubator to fruition.

“We love the Washington Trust Building,” she said, adding that “W&J needs partnerships to make this work.”

As for Gatti, who added there would also be space for some retail in the building, said his group “feels like we’ve got the residential piece solved.

“We’re ready to go,” he said, noting that Trek should have construction drawings completed in the next few months.

In addition to Trek’s presentation, the LSA panel, headed by Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula, heard from 44 other groups Monday.

One of those was Mon Valley Hospital, which is seeking $435,000 in LSA funds which it will match with another $431,640 to purchase the next generation of enhanced medical imaging equipment.

MVH Chief Executive Officer Lou Panza said the independent health care provider wants to purchase five new 4-D ultrasound units that in addition to imaging can also show movement.

Panza said the new machines would replace 11-year-old models that have exceeded their lifespan.

The panel also heard from Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living, which is requesting $400,000 to put toward the purchase a new elevator for inclusion into the renovation project it has under way to transform the vacant YWCA building on Main Street into its headquarters.

TRIPL, which works with area residents with disabilities, recently finished the internal demolition of the 25,000-square-foot structure, according to architect Ken Kulak.

He said TRIPL, which has received LSA funds toward the building renovation, said the elevator would be able to accompany up to three people in wheelchairs at a time, and would include features such as voice and foot controls.

Some requests made Monday were of a more modest nature.

Michelle Loar, of Disability Options Network in Donora, which works with disabled residents in Washington, Greene, Beaver and Westmoreland counties, was seeking $34,269 to purchase 10 new desktop computers, 10 new laptops and 10 new tablets, as well as printers and voice conference equipment.

“People with disabilities don’t always have access to computers,” she said, adding that the project “will help people with disabilities become more independent and more employable.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today