School district selling two homes in Leetsdale

Quaker Valley School District is selling two houses in Leetsdale it purchased five years ago as part of a former plan to expand the parking and drop-off zone at the high school.

The district is selling the homes at 704 and 706 Beaver St. for $199,500 and $120,000. In 2012, it paid $250,000 for 704 Beaver and $150,000 for 706 Beaver.

One of the lots is being bought by a family, and the other is being purchased by Mt. Nebo Property Solutions, a real estate investment company. Under state law, court approval is needed for the sales.

Hearings on the sales will be held at 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Downtown.

The school board agreed to sell the two lots when it was decided that the current high school site would not be suitable for future use.

Not only does the site have traffic and parking issues, it also is too small to meet state Department of Education recommendations. The property is also in a flood zone, which could cause problems with rebuilding or renovating.

The high school building also has limitations, including its age, an antiquated heating and cooling system, and a lack of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in some areas.

The district has decided to rebuild at another location. In May, the board voted to enter into a sales agreement with Three Rivers Trust to buy land in Leet, Edgeworth and Leetsdale for no more than $7.5 million.

Phillips & Associates engineering firm is conducting tests and inspections on that property.

Movie producer Thomas Tull had planned to use that property for a dairy farm but has since chosen land in Washington County.