Jeannette accepts Pitzer's Townhouse as donation, looks to redevelop it

The former Pitzer’s Townhouse restaurant and lounge may be redeveloped or razed now that it’s owned by the city of Jeannette.

City council Thursday accepted a donation of the property with hopes it might be redeveloped.

The building at South Fifth Street and Magee Avenue that formerly held Pitzer’s Townhouse is being transferred pending the exoneration of unpaid Westmoreland County and school district taxes. Council approved exoneration of city taxes for the parcel owned by Phillips Spring Properties.

Pitzer’s Townhouse closed in 2016, and the building has been vacant since.

“This is simply to get control of the property night now,” fire Chief Bill Frye said at Thursday’s council meeting.

City officials discussed earlier in the week the possibility of the building being redeveloped.

“There’s a couple interested parties, but we have to take ownership first,” Frye said then.

There are potential public safety issues with the three-story building, including some bricks that are starting to fall off the facade. It’ll be a large investment if there is a developer who decides to move forward with it, he said.

But there is a backup plan — if the building is deemed not worth salvaging, the city could tap into American Rescue Plan funding through Westmoreland County to have it demolished, he said.

“The idea is eventually to get it back on the tax rolls,” Frye said. “We’re not worried about being stuck with it.”

The next step could be to seek proposals from interested parties. If that’s the ultimate direction council takes, Councilman Chuck Highlands suggested the city consider giving a developer a time frame to get the work done or else the property is returned to Jeannette.

“I’m a little concerned that we give these properties to a potential developer and, three years later, nothing happens,” he said.

Pitzer’s Townhouse was at one time a restaurant and bar that regularly had entertainment, buffets and community events. Phillips Spring Properties bought the building from the Pitzers in 2008, according to county deeds, and leased it to the restaurant.