Update 9/24/2024

The latest update on this property - despite the marketing done by Harvest Commercial Realty, Landmark Property Development is seeking to have their sales agreement terminated.  

June 2024 - application for another EPA Brownfields Assessment grant was denied.

Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority, to account for mitigation of further delays, has paid for the additional testing at the Ralph Smith Trucking site at a cost of $35,000.

Additionally, the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority is allotting $4,000 to investigating the sinkhole.

With this, we are returning to the original plan before Landmark's purchase agreement, which is installation of roads, infrastructure, floodplain mitigation, and replacement of the Garlane Mills culvert.

As such, I have expanded this petition to the State legislature and Executive Branch, to call for increased funding statewide and for Westmoreland County, to complete brownfield assessments, clean ups, and Act 2 Clearances.  Doing so will help Porcelain Park, as well as the rest of the county, and the state of Pennsylvania, to return to prominence as a manufacturing and industrial hub.

Original Petition Below

Petition to the Westmoreland County Commissioners: Urgent Call for the Redevelopment of the Westinghouse/Porcelain Park Industrial Site in Derry, PA

To the Honorable Commissioners of Westmoreland County and Members of the Redevelopment Authority:

We, the residents of Derry, PA, and surrounding communities, write to you today with an urgent plea to prioritize the redevelopment of the Westinghouse/Porcelain Park industrial site. Our small borough, with its rich cultural heritage and significant history as a railroad hub, stands at a crossroads. Without immediate and decisive action, the future of our town is in jeopardy.

Overview of Derry, PA

Derry is a small borough located in Westmoreland County with a population of just over 2,500 residents. Our community is characterized by a tight-knit, hardworking population, many of whom have deep roots in the area. Historically, Derry has been a vibrant town, buoyed by its role as a significant railroad hub. Several historic buildings and areas within the borough stand as testaments to our rich past.

Challenges Facing Our Borough

However, in recent decades, Derry has faced numerous challenges. The construction of a railroad bridge that bypasses our downtown area has decimated local businesses, leaving our once-thriving main street a shadow of its former self. The recent closure of our only pizza shop—a staple of our community—highlights the dire economic conditions we are facing.

Adding to these woes, a sinkhole has recently developed near the flood channel on this location, further threatening the safety and stability of our borough. These issues, coupled with the lack of redevelopment areas in our small town, have left us with few options to revitalize our community.

The Importance of Redevelopment

The Westinghouse/Porcelain Park industrial site represents one of the last and best opportunities to breathe new life into Derry. The redevelopment of this site would not only create much-needed jobs but would also attract new businesses and residents to our town. It could serve as the catalyst for the economic revitalization that Derry so desperately needs.

We are grateful for the support you have shown thus far, including the additional $650,000 secured this year for road improvements at the site. However, this will be too little too late if further action is not taken swiftly. We implore you to use all resources at your disposal, including state and federal funding, to prioritize the redevelopment of the Westinghouse/Porcelain Park industrial site. We simply do not have the time to wait any longer.

A Call to Action

Derry’s rich history and cultural heritage deserve to be preserved and built upon. The future of our borough depends on the redevelopment of this critical site. We urge you to act with urgency and determination to ensure that Derry does not become another forgotten town.

Thank you for your continued support and for your attention to this urgent matter.