Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed Act 24 of 2022, establishing a competitive process to accept sale proposals for the 20.2-acre SCI Pittsburgh property.
The former prison facility is located on the shore of the Ohio River and has been vacant since 2017.
“There have been a number of interested businesses and developers who have expressed interest in the property over the years, and now they can finally present their proposals to the state and the local community,” state Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny County) said.
The Department of General Services (DGS) will be responsible for facilitating a competitive process that will determine what offers the best value and return on investment. The department is authorized to consider price, the proposed use of the property, job creation, return to the property tax rolls, and other criteria specified in the solicitation documents.
A competitive solicitation committee will review proposals and recommend a buyer. Members will include the DGS secretary or a designee, the member of the Senate in whose district the majority of the property is located or a designee, the member of the House of Representatives in whose district the majority of the property is located or a designee, and a representative of the municipality in which the property is located.
Proceeds will go into the state’s General Fund.