Officials say plans to demolish former state prison in Hempfield are moving forward

Bids for the demolition of the former SCI Greensburg state prison could be sought by the end of the year.

Hempfield officials may have to complete the project in phases, depending on how much funding is awarded, but Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. Executive Director Jason Rigone said he is hopeful those bids will be favorable.

“The market is good,” he said. “There’s a lot of hungry contractors out there to do work.”

The township in mid-2023 purchased the former state prison off Route 119 between Greensburg and Youngwood for $3.5 million with the intention of redeveloping the land.

Hempfield plans to demolish all the buildings on the site, which closed in 2013, and is working with the county corporation on the project.

During an update Wednesday to township supervisors, Rigone and engineer Bryan J. Clement said a site analysis showed that parts of a generation plant that turns electricity into steam on the 96-acre property could have revenue potential. Township officials are going to look into selling or auctioning pieces of the plant that may have value.

An assessment found asbestos inside the prison building, said Clement, a senior associate and project engineer with H.F. Lenz Engineering.

“Based on the amount of square footage, I think it’s pretty minimal,” he said. “There’s not a lot, but obviously, prior to demolition, those items would have to be abated.”

The evaluation of the site found evidence of mining between the 1940s and ’60s. On some parts of the property, intact coal and mined areas are close to the surface, which may require some additional considerations, based on how the property ultimately will be used, Clement said. Those areas may have to remain green space.

Rigone suggested a need for a second access point to the property, preferably connecting with Willow Crossing Road.

He is expecting an announcement regarding state funding in the next month or so. Township officials submitted grant applications to the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

Early estimates are between $3.5 million and $5 million for the demolition work.

“Things are lining up that we could be out to bid by the end of the year,” Rigone said.

The demolition is expected to take as long as a year. During that time, officials can mull how the property will be used.

“I think we’re all in agreement, the faster we can get this done, the better we’ll all be,” Supervisor Tom Logan said.

The medium-security prison was built to hold 900 inmates and employed 360 people. It closed in June 2013, with state officials citing maintenance costs and a declining inmate population. It has been vacant since.

It was sold at auction in 2015 for $950,000 to Carlisle businessman David Goldsmith who later titled it to Verdant Holdings LLC. Goldsmith announced a plan to build a veteran rehabilitation center there, a project that never materialized.

The property was foreclosed upon in 2018 and later sold at sheriff’s sale for close to $147,000 to Midwest Bank.