Former Canonsburg Middle School sold for $500,000
Building will be converted into community center
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan School District sold the former Canonsburg Middle School last week, paving the way for the conversion of the building at 25 E. College St. into a community center.
Tony Colaizzo, president of the Canonsburg Educational & Cultural Institute (CECI), said the sale was completed March 21. According to Washington County’s property tax website, the purchase price was $500,000.
“Collaboration with the school district helped get us across this milestone,” Colaizzo said. “We have a great working board that has led the way.”
The nonprofit CECI was formed in 2021 with a mission to improve cultural opportunities to communities through outreach and related programs. According to its website, CECI envisions the former middle school campus as an anchor to provide resources, programs, and services to support unmet needs for the community and surrounding areas to build on the success of the revitalized downtown Canonsburg.
The former middle school opened in 1967 as Canon-McMillan Junior High School and continued serving students until January 2023, when a new school opened off Route 519. A purchase agreement was worked out in June 2023 for the 150,000-square-foot building.
The property consists of approximately 5.6 acres of land. As part of the acquisition, CECI will continue to house The Jefferson Historical Society and maintain the log cabin that became Jefferson College, the first such institution west of the Alleghenies.
The sale enables CECI to proceed with the first phase of the project, which involves converting the auditorium into a theater with between 500 and 600 seats and a reception area. Lighting, sound and restrooms will receive upgrades and seats will be replaced. A parking lot will be built across the street.
Colaizzo said that phase should take at least a year to complete.
Other plans include turning the gymnasium into a family recreational center, making the cafeteria into an area for restaurants and upgrading the classrooms for adult education and children services, such as day care and preschool. Initial plans call for the swimming pool to remain.
Colaizzo previously said the entire project carries a price tag of about $20 million. A number of grants have already been committed or secured to offset the cost, including a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant awarded in November. Other gifts or grants include $650,000 in CECI board commitments; $500,000 from the Washington County Local Share Account; $285,000 from the Greater Canonsburg Economic Development Committee; $40,000 from the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency; $5,000 from Bowles Rice LLP, and $2,500 from Noble International.
Colaizzo said there is a lot of excitement about filling a void in Washington County for a cultural center.
“We are motivated and excited about our partnerships and potential collaboration opportunities that are in front of us,” Colaizzo said. “The CECI Campus will help transform Canonsburg and our region. We look forward to providing a place where people with a passion can share it with others.”
CECI board members include Colaizzo, Paul Scarmazzi, John Dziak, Lisa Scarmazzi, Pete Moniodes, Leslie Peters and newly appointed Suzanne Malausky. Jay Romero was a board member until his death in 2022. Other former board members include Mike Malone and Gene Tempesta.