Borough staff back cooperative sale of 187 sq ft at Noel Wien Library to DOT for Kyle Street improvements

Manager of Natural Resources Mister Welch told the Committee of the Whole on Jan. 8 that the borough received a DOT request to acquire approximately 187 square feet of property adjacent to the Noel Wien Library (Tax Lot 30) to support a Kyle Street reconstruction project aimed at widening the right of way, improving sidewalks and adding a bus pullout.

Welch said the cooperative sale is being pursued because DOT’s funding approach made a cooperative sale administratively preferable to condemnation or other methods. He said the borough would receive fair market value for the parcel ($1,500) and that DOT will perform reconstruction and utility work as part of the project; sale is contingent on planning approval and any required city-level ordinance addressing an older deed restriction.

Deed and city coordination: Staff reported that deed language conveyed the parcel to the borough for library purposes and may allow the city to claim it back if uses change; the city is preparing an ordinance authorizing the conveyance and staff said they expect the city ordinance to be considered on Jan. 12.

Assembly questions: Members asked whether the project includes a bus pullout (staff: yes) and raised concerns about how this small parcel repeatedly escaped earlier modifications to Cowles Street; staff said the parcel would be reconstructed and the bus stop would not move.

Next steps: The administration will present the cooperative-sale ordinance for the assembly’s consideration; any final conveyance will be contingent on planning approvals and the city action addressing deed language.