Hempfield enters partnership with county to identify 'best reuse' of former state prison property

Hempfield supervisors have entered an agreement with the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation to tear down the former SCI Greensburg state prison.

The agreement, which the Hempfield supervisors approved in a meeting Monday evening, outlines the partnership between the township and the corporation, said Jason Rigone, executive director of the corporation.

“We’re working with leadership from the township to identify the best reuse of the property, the ultimate marketing,” Rigone said. “The corporation … has a lot of experience and history overseeing challenging industrial sites or unique situations.”

The prison, a 350,000-square-foot facility, was built to hold 900 inmates and employed 360 people. The state Department of Corrections announced in January 2013 it would close the facility — and another in Cambria County — because of maintenance costs and a declining inmate population.

After the facility sat vacant for 10 years, the township announced in June it would purchase the 96-acre property for $3.5 million with the intent to demolish the prison.

The township is increasing security on the property and working with the Westmoreland development corporation to figure out next steps. Rigone said the primary goal is “understanding the site and the structure,” as well as “getting our arms wrapped around the assets on the site that might be able to be liquidated and sold.”

The timing of the project is “predicated on fundraising,” Rigone said.

“Taking down a 350,000-square-foot prison is going to take capital, which we don’t necessarily have secured at this point.

“We’re excited that the township has confidence that we’ll be able to manage this project,” Rigone said. “(We will) try to keep costs down, try to create a successful project — financially, as well as (with) the ultimate reuse of the property.”