Cal U. purchases vacant house

CALIFORNIA – California University of Pennsylvania will purchase a vacant house for more than its assessed value to make way for better access to its soccer complex.
The university’s council of trustees approved the $33,196 purchase of a house on Orchard Street at a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.
A trustee who attended the meeting by conference call questioned why the university was paying that much money for the century-old house when it was assessed this month at $22,000.
Robert Thorn, vice president for administration and finance, responded by saying the university did not negotiate the sale, that it was the price offered to the school.
The owners of the house, on a small lot at 724 Orchard St., are listed on university documents as Linda and Nathan Mickulicz.
Cal U. spokeswoman Christine Kindl said the university was given the first option to purchase the house at a firm price.
“It could have cost more if it went on the market,” Kindl said.