Council Hopes Reinhard Demolition Can Proceed

Hellertown Borough Council members had hoped the vacant Reinhard School building on Northampton Street , but the 101-year-old yellow stucco structure still stands.

At council's Sept. 6 meeting, Borough Engineer Bryan Smith said Northampton County officials were awaiting approval from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) on a Memorandum of Agreement to demolish the school.

Borough Manager Cathy Kichline followed up Smith's comment by explaining that the county gave the PHMC 30 days from Aug. 3 to reply, but has heard nothing.

The lack of communication from the state agency has been frustrating, council members acknowledged.

"Obviously that has no teeth," councilwoman Gail Nolf said of the timeline presented by the county.

It has also been confusing, according to council solicitor Michael Corriere, who asked why the PHMC wouldn't be signing off on a Memorandum of Agreement that originated with the organization itself.

Council President Phil Weber expressed his opinion that "it's time to move" on the demolition of the school, with or without the sought-after document.

However, Corriere recommended that he first review the Memorandum of Agreement in order to find out what implications not having a PHMC stamp of approval could have.

A motion to begin gathering the paperwork needed to proceed with the demolition, pending the solicitor's review of the PHMC's failure to respond and its implications, was approved.

Councilman Tom Rieger, who said the PHMC "had more than their fair share of time" to respond, also requested that a letter of complaint about the agency's lack of responsiveness be drafted.

Borough resident and president of the Earl Hill, who was in attendance at the meeting, asked council what plans are in place for the land on which the school building now sits.

Weber responded by explaining that although "there's no real, real plan" for the property, Rieger will head a committee charged with examining reuse options once the demolition process actually begins.

Weber said that exploring options for redevelopment has been on hold while the borough awaits the demolition.

"As soon as the building starts coming down, (Rieger will) get his committee going," he told Hill.

Whatever type of redevelopment is ultimately decided upon will have to be for the benefit of the community, so the construction of housing will not be an option under consideration, Nolf said.