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Lawmakers press DGS on Polk State Centercleanup, acreage and appraisal as land plan proceeds
Summary
Senator Hutchinson urged rapid demolition and an independent appraisal of the Polk State Center, saying state ownership left buildings to deteriorate; DGS said a land survey and land-use plan are underway and reiterated Act 48 appraisal and minimum-bid rules.
Senator Hutchinson urged the Department of General Services to move quickly to convert the Polk State Center in Venango County from a long-dormant state facility into tax-paying private property, saying the stateshould pay to demolish unsafe buildings and remove liabilities before sale.
"Private property ownership is the bedrock of America's flourishing," Hutchinson said in a lengthy statement, adding that the stateshould not "leave behind another liability that greatly devalues and makes the real estate less marketable." The senator recommended demolition ahead of sale, an independent appraisal and a push for rapid disposition.
DGS Deputy Secretary Califano told lawmakers the department is completing a land survey to confirm the acreage under DHS control (DGS described the core parcel as about 630 acres after prior transfers to DCNR, Fish and Boat, and the Game Commission) and has issued an RFP for a land-use planner to evaluate which buildings could be retained or should be demolished as part of a market strategy.
Califano said DGS generally prefers to market a site in a way that secures an investor with capacity to take on a whole property but will identify marketable buildings versus those that depress value. He also noted Act 48requirements that minimum bids not be set below certified-appraisal fair market value, a rule that can prevent bids on heavily contaminated or demolition-expensive properties.
Why it matters: Hutchinson and other members argued that years of state ownership can result in higher long-term public costs for upkeep and environmental liabilities, while DGS said detailed land planning and appraisal work will guide whether demolition or public investment is appropriate prior to sale. The committee did not vote on the Polk parcel today.
Next steps: DGS will complete the land survey, produce a land-use plan following the RFP, track expressions of interest and return to committee as required by the legislative disposition process.
