KENNEDY TOWNSHIP, Pa. \u2014 Kennedy Township is accepting bids for nearly 20 acres of land near Fairhaven Park. It was gifted to the Township in the 1950s, but soon, the property could become another housing plan.<\/p>\n
Tax collector Mel Weinstein told Channel 11 the board of commissioners wanted to see if there was any interest from developers to transform the land into three dozen single-family homesites.<\/p>\n
Channel 11 spoke with people who live, work and visit Kennedy Township to get their reaction to this proposal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re losing too many trees,\u201d said Jim Havko, who lives in the area. \u201cEvery farm around here has gotten taken over by homes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have limited space, so you know, if we\u2019re going to fill it all with houses, I would object to that,\u201d Kennedy Township resident Mary Knight said.<\/p>\n
Allegheny County records show the property value is just under $700,000, but many residents believe this green space is priceless and one of the few undeveloped areas left in Kennedy Township.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s taking all of our wildlife away, you know, where are they going to go?\u201d Connie Karpinski said.<\/p>\n
Weinstein said any housing development would not encroach upon Fairhaven Park as it exists now, with baseball fields, playgrounds, and other sports facilities. But there are questions as to whether this can happen. <\/p>\n
The original deed from 1951 states the property is to be used for township park purposes and that any future sale would have to be approved by Allegheny County and school district officials.<\/p>\n
Community members are encouraged to attend the township\u2019s municipal meeting on June 11th to make sure their voices are heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople will come out and talk about what their interests are and whether or not they think this is a good idea,\u201d Knight said.<\/p>\n
Commissioners will receive sealed bids until noon on Monday, June 8. The bids will then be shared at the township\u2019s administrative meeting two hours later.<\/p>\n
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