Workshop scheduled to discuss reviving Canonsburg Parking Authority
Canonsburg Council will hold a workshop to discuss the possibility of reestablishing the borough’s parking authority.
The workshop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24.
“We’re going to talk through the details of how we establish it,” said Rich Russo, council president. “What our solicitor was able to find out is that it unofficially doesn’t exist. The state couldn’t find any records of it. We’re going to discuss whether we want to do it, if we do, what are the parameters …”
The borough previously had a parking authority, which is helpful in securing funds for parking related projects. Once the work was completed, the authority was no longer need. Since there is an emphasis on redevelopment and revitalization, it has been deemed a good time to bring the authority back.
Russo said in January he anticipated the authority consisting of about five members.
Canonsburg also will be looking to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County concerning the conversion of the former Canonsburg Middle School into a community center.
The plan for the community center is the brainchild of the Canonsburg Educational & Cultural Institute (CECI). CECI received a Rural Community Assistance Partnership grant to be overseen by Washington County. Tony Colaizzo, CECI president, said in June that the hope was to have the initial phase open and operational this year.
“There’s a cooperation agreement that the borough will enter into basically saying that we support the effort,” Russo said.
The former school opened in 1967 as Canonsburg Junior High School and continued serving students until January 2023, when a new middle school opened off Route 519.