Politics & Government
Weyman-Provost Junkyard May Get Makeover
A South Hills resident wants to turn a longtime eyesore into a storage facility.
By the end of spring, residents may find themselves rid of a neighborhood blemish—finally.
At a Whitehall Council meeting on Wednesday night, businessman Tom Kesten told the council that he wants residential zoning changed on a property between Provost and Weyman roads formerly occupied by an auto salvage company.
The junkyard had been there when the borough was formed in 1948, but for years, it has sat unused and has been an eyesore.
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Kesten hopes to change that. He wants to buy the property and turn it into a high-end storage facility.
"Without any help with zoning, it's a stalemate," Kesten said, adding that he's eager to clean the site up. "I don't want to buy it and be stuck with something I can't use."
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Council members were warm to the proposition, suggesting that Kesten meet with borough Manager James E. Leventry and solicitor Irving Firman to hash out the next steps. The process should take about 90 days, Firman said.
"We'd be ready to go as fast as you can go," Councilman Philip Lahr told Kesten.
Kesten said that he had been researching the site for months and couldn't understand why it was zoned for residential development. After he contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Kesten was told that waste from batteries and other automotive parts make the site unfit for residential housing, he said.
With hopes to complete development in the spring, Kesten agreed with the council's suggestion that he landscape the area, clean up and level the land, and perhaps add ornamental fencing and brick walls along the driveway.
"If it's nice, you're going to attract customers, as well," Kesten said.
Speaking to Kesten after the meeting, Lahr praised his efforts.
"The day you take all that down ... I'll buy you dinner," Lahr said with a laugh. "It's an eyesore. I've always hated it."
After musing about selling the automotive parts that still reside at the site, Kesten said that they're all worthless.
"Them cars don't even exist anymore!"
Check back with the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch later on Thursday for more odds and ends from Wednesday night's council meeting.
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