A look back at the top 10 South Hills stories from 2019

As we enter a new decade, the South Hills Record is looking back at 2019 and the stories that made the year memorable. Here’s a look at our picks for the top 10 stories from last year.

Jefferson Hills zoning board strips UPMC permit

A group of Jefferson Hills residents fought hard against UPMC’s building of a 63-bed hospital in their neighborhood.

In September, the borough’s zoning hearing board sided with the 104 residents who challenged the municipality’s issuance of a zoning permit to the health care giant — stripping UPMC of zoning permit for the project.

By late November, UPMC appealed the decision to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas where the next steps will play out.

Decertification of Gill Hall fire company

Despite protests from its members, Jefferson Hills council members in January voted to decertify Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company.

This meant the fire company would no longer receive municipal funds or be dispatched to aid borough residents.

Borough leaders cited flagging membership and a decline in the quality of service. Still, some residents and members of the fire company have questioned the closure.

Paynter construction

The Baldwin-Whitehall School District in 2019 announced plans to build a new $48 million, 48-classroom W.R. Paynter Elementary School to replace the aging school in Baldwin Borough.

Leaders said the new school would address the district’s needs with a growing population. However, the new school likely will involve a temporary relocation of students.

Brentwood’s municipal building/pool upgrades

Brentwood Borough will finally get a new municipal building in 2020.

Borough leaders in May broke ground on the new $4.5 million municipal building under construction on Brownsville Road at the former Snee Dairy site.

Borough leaders have talked for decades about the need to replace their failing 100-year-old municipal building. Brentwood leaders also moved forward with long-awaited renovations to the Brentwood pool. The roughly $3 million pool renovation will include adding a zero-depth entry, large slide, new bathhouse with restrooms and changing areas, and more green space.

Baldwin Borough gets new leadership

Baldwin Borough got a new manager and a new police chief in 2019.

Borough leaders promoted Bob Firek, the borough’s director of municipal services, to manager, after eight-year manager John Barrett left for a job in South Fayette.

Borough leaders also promoted Tony Cortazzo, a longtime detective in the Baldwin police department, to chief in 2019 after the retirement of 10-year police Chief Michael Scott.

TJ 2.0 opens

A new $95 million Thomas Jefferson High School opened its doors to students in 2019.

The new 300,000-square-foot school, modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Va., with a red brick facade and white pillars at the entry, features arts, academic and athletic wings. The school, which has been talked about for decades and in the works for several years, offers many new options for students and staff.

Brentwood schools launches capital projects

The Brentwood Borough School District launched more than $21 million in facilities upgrades in 2019 that are set to be completed over the next five years.

The upgrades include everything from replacing the roof at Brentwood Middle/High School to replacing the fire alarm and phone systems in the building. The upgrades cover projects districtwide.

Century III mall meets its end

A sprinkler pipe that burst inside a dying Century III Mall in early February led West Mifflin leaders to deem the structure “unsafe and uninhabitable.” Shortly thereafter, the last few remaining tenants of the once-thriving South Hills mall were given notices to vacate and by June, the mall was boarded up.

A redevelopment plan for the site is working its way through the courts.

Nine sets of twins at McClellan

Teachers at McClellan Elementary School were seeing double this year.

Nine sets of twins entered the school’s kindergarten in 2019.

TJ state championship

Thomas Jefferson once again proved they’re the best 4A football team in the state.

In December, the Jaguars marched to victory over Dallas to secure a PIAA Class 4A championship at Hersheypark Stadium.

This is the Jaguars’ fourth PIAA championship, but the first in more than a decade.