Kennedy Township taking bids for 20-acre parcel near Fairhaven Park

A residential development project featuring upward of three dozen homes could be coming to Kennedy Township if township officials get their wish.

The township has put a 19.5-acre parcel of land adjacent to Fairhaven Park up for sale, and the property will go to the highest bidder.

According to a public notice, the township Board of Commissioners will receive sealed bids until noon Monday, June 8, for the purchase of the property, which the township acquired for free in 1951.

The notice describes the property as “prime residential development opportunity situated for R-1 development in the heart of Kennedy Township. This expansive vacant property offers a rare combination of natural beauty and suburban convenience.”

The notice also refers to the 20+/- acres as “undeveloped surplus land within a highly sought after 1^st Class Township immediately adjacent to Fairhaven Park.”

According to the public notice, the minimum acceptable bid amount is $750,000 for the purchase of the property for the development of single-family residential dwellings with a minimum of thirty-two (32) lots. The notice states that if more than 32 lots are feasible then the buyer would need to pay the township an additional $25,000 per each additional single-family residential lot.

Township Manager Gregory Clarke said he believes there will be plenty of interest in the property, which has residential development bordering on two sides.

He said the township’s proximity to downtown Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh International Airport and major highways, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and also to the commercial, dining and retail areas in nearby Robinson make the township-owned land an attractive piece of property.

“I think we’re positioned in a good area,” he said. “The Montour School District is as good as there is. This is a sought-out area and we’ll probably see more development in the future.”

He said the Board of Commissioners, which agreed to move forward with the sale, wants to see the land be used for using housing because that would bring in needed tax revenue on top of the sale proceeds.

Clarke said there is no documentation that indicated the property must be used for a certain purpose. “I don’t see where there was any bequeath or a will,” he said. “There’s no real documentation that we have on the record. But I had the solicitor look into this to make sure we’re dotting all our I’s and crossing our T’s.”

Board President Chris DiNardo said he would not comment on the land sale until the next board meeting, which will occur three days after the bids are opened on June 8. He referred all questions to Clarke.

The Allegheny County online Real Estate Portal states the county assessed total value of the property is $695,800. It lists the lot size as 19.5 acres.

According to the county portal, the township obtained the property on July 3, 1951, and the sale price is listed as $0.

Clarke said it hasn’t been determined how the township might use the proceeds if the property is sold.

“Infrastructure in any municipality is always in need of an upgrade,” he said. “The board will use those resources in a responsible way, but what that is, we don’t know yet. We still need to go through the transaction.”

According to the public notice, all bids received by the deadline will be publicly opened and read aloud at the Administrative Meeting of the Kennedy Township Administration at 2 p.m. Monday, June 8, at the Municipal Building.

Several people affiliated with organizations that utilize Fairhaven Park said they were unaware the township was interested in selling the property.

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” said Kevin DeAngelis of the Kennedy Township Bocce League. “Last year or the year before they had talked about receiving grant money to upgrade the park but I haven’t hardly seen any of that.

“I’m not sure what they’re doing.”

The township has received substantial funding to put toward Fairhaven Park over the last couple of years. In September 2024, U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio announced that the township would receive $600,000 to fund recreational and safety upgrades. According to a press release from Deluzio’s office, the money would be used to improve a recreational trail, add more lighting and security cameras and build a new playground structure. The new playground structure was completed last summer.

Clarke said the township has spent more than $200,000 of that grant money on upgrades to Fairhaven Park and will be installing a walking trail once a master plan for the park is completed. The township also received a $50,000 grant from State Rep. Anita Kulik in September 2024 to create a master plan for the park.

DeAngelis acknowledged that if selling the property is best for the township, he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea. But he said expanding the park or upgrading the facilities also might be a good approach.

Clarke said that a meeting would be held in “a couple months” to gain public input for the park master plan, which is being put together by RVE engineering.

Clarke said using the township-owned property that’s now up for sale to expand Fairhaven Park would not work because the grading and excavating that would be required would be cost-prohibitive.