Effort to Save Mayview Barn Still Alive

The future of the of the Upper St. Clair commissioners.

In a 4-3 vote, the Parks and Recreation Board voted to send their task force subcommittee's recommendation to the commissioners.

"The board believes that the future of the barn is a community issue to be resolved by the township commissioners and appreciates the opportunity to provide this input," the recommendation stated.

The task force—made up of two members of the Parks and Recreation Board and two members of the USC Citizens for Land Stewardship—believes the commissioners should "undertake a market evaluation" of the property "focusing on commercial amenities."

Some of the adaptive uses of the barn the task force suggests include a day care center, a teen center, an indoor playground with a climbing wall or a batting cage.

In addition to athletic options, the subcommittee said the barn could be used as an intimate theater, office space for township agencies, a extension or a place for Upper St. Clair historical displays including the history of Mayview State Hospital.

Some Parks and Recreation Board members said they believe the land may be needed to expand the outdoor pool or add outdoor basketball courts at the in the future.

"I think the barn is an eyesore. The silos were torn down, which made it look nice," said Kelly Bakayza, Parks and Recreation Board member.

Upper St. Clair resident and USC CLS member Judy Shock said she disagreed with Bakyaza. She said the barn is iconic.

The barn is located on a highly visible corner of the Boyce Mayview Park. It is near the and across the road from the outdoor aquatics area of the Community and Recreation Center. The openings are boarded up and weeds are growing on the building. The uses the barn as a storage area for recycling containers, machinery and supplies.

The commissioners sent a charge to the Parks and Recreation Board in the spring to study the adaptive reuse of the barn without spending any tax dollars.

A recent investigation completed by engineer Doug Shuck indicated that the building is structurally sound and can be restored at a significant cost—five million dollars.

The estimating it would cost $126,000 to demolish the barn.

Chairman Roger Hartung, Vice Chairman Jennifer Schuler and board member Kelly Bakayza voted against sending the task force recommendation to the commissioners.

"I voted no because I don't think we did our job with this charge," Hartung said.

The other board members—William Barnard, Thomas Browand, Diane Morris and Timothy Stouden—voted in favor of the task force recommendation.

Diane Morris and Timothy Stouden were the Parks and Recreation Board represenatitves on the task force. Annette Shimer, USC CLS president, and Larry Burke, part of the USC CLS board of directors, were also on the task force.

What do you think should happen to the barn? Is it a "relic of the past without a useful future" or "a mothballed asset waiting to be re-purposed?" Tell us in the comments.