Developer wants to convert Monaca school

Posted: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 5:08 pm | Updated: 5:50 pm, Wed Mar 21, 2012.

MONACA -- A former elementary school building may be granted new life.

A Center Township developer has applied to Monaca Council for a conditional use permit to convert the former Fourth Ward school into an apartment building.

Phil Laird, representing Laird Construction and Kelar Properties, has been granted a public hearing at 6 p.m. March 27 in the borough building.

Kelar properties bought the building for $68,101 in November from the Central Valley School District. Laird's application says he intends to construct 11 apartments in the building, which is located at the corner of Allen Avenue and Walnut Street.

In 2010, borough council approved conditional use criteria that includes garden apartments as a conditional use for school buildings.

The Fourth Ward building was built in 1952 and closed in 1992, according to Times files.

After closing, the building was used as a classroom center for a Beaver County Head Start program, and as the Monaca Senior Center, which eventually moved to the Beaver Valley Mall.

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Developer wants to convert Monaca school