05/03/2025
To clear up a few things;
The donation account at Northwest Bank was opened once we started receiving cash and checks from residents, schools, churches, and businesses, to aid in keeping record of the funds, and easily distribute to those affected by the loss of our building and business. Total cash donations reached $4,000; employees and the apartment tenant got all of it. As for any ‘Go Fund Me’, or the like, we were not aware of any such donation effort and have not received anything from such an effort. As owners of the business and building, for the next 14 months, we gained the continued responsibility of paying our taxes, monthly insurance premiums on two policies for the building and the business, as well as the building mortgage, without the income of a pizza shop. We invested over $400K cash and 3 1/2 years that we will never get back. We had to retain legal counsel and hire a private fire adjuster firm to help us through something we had never experienced. And, before we got a dime from Erie Insurance, a couple sheriff deputies showed up at our home with a quarter million-dollar lawsuit from the owner of the adjacent building for damage to his property.
As to rebuilding, we paid a contractor $5K for plans and pricing to rebuild the building exactly as it was, for the insurance company, to show how grossly under insured the policy was even though they reassessed and increased policy limits when Nate Weaver purchased the former Fairmont Hotel. The insurance company would not budge. And to get closer to the amount to rebuild, we would have had to sue the policy issuer which could have taken a few more years. Had we decided to pursue that option, we couldn’t deposit any insurance checks until that lawsuit was settled. A low estimate to build a commercial building is $300/sq ft; ours was 4,400 sq ft. We are not going to put 1.2 million into rebuilding at that location for various reasons.
The idea of the long-term lease was simple and could be written for any length of term the borough wanted. If they wanted a five-year lease with options to renew for the next two hundred years, they could have it. If they can’t afford to continue the lease after five years, they don't have to renew, and their losses are limited. If they do it right, and it attracts more people, and more people mean more tax revenue, it pays for itself. There is no down payment on a lease. The borough/Revitalization of Youngsville project (R.O.Y) spent over $100,000.00 to purchase and clean up the old hotel. Someone involved with the project informed me that the plans for the stage and area around it is $250,000.00. Even with financial grants, the monies are for everyone to have input and decide how it should be used for Youngsville improvements and revitalization. The plans I’ve seen had the electrical power for event food trucks on Railroad St. where there is no parking, so the street would have to be closed. The acquisition of Lonnie’s Pizza property doubles the size of the park area and keeps the food trucks out of the way by the Tops parking lot. The mural was just a suggestion to use some of the funds they wouldn't have to spend on buying the property. If they want to purchase the property, that is fine; I gave them a number.
What would not be fine is making an ordinance that would allow the borough to take someone's property if they had a vacant lot and the borough wanted it. The next borough meeting may be one that anyone who would like to acquire Youngsville property, or would like to keep property they currently own, should definitely attend.
Thank you very much for your ear. All of us want the best for Youngsville; we were just trying to help.
