Former Irene Stacy site to be used for self-storage
BUTLER TWP — The former Irene Stacy Mental Health Center has been sold to an attorney from Bridgeville, Allegheny County, who will remodel the property into a climate-controlled self-storage facility.
Nick Brenlove said on Thursday that he and his son, Eli, recently bought the building for $425,000 from NexTier Bank, which owned the building due to Irene Stacy's foreclosure and a subsequent sheriff's sale.
NexTier officials declined to divulge the appraised value of the property, but said the buildings equal almost 23,000 square feet of indoor space.
“The sale was initiated in order to recoup unpaid debts,” an email from NexTier stated.
Renovations have started in the first phase of the project, which will see workers change offices into 28 storage units.
“It was a unique setup, with long, straight hallways with small offices on either side,” Brenlove said.
He said the units will be upscale because they will be carpeted and painted.
“No metal walls,” Brenlove said.
Other phases of the project on the 10-acre site will include building 14 new drive-up storage units on the property and adding 75 outdoor spaces where cars, boats and recreational vehicles can be stored.
The gated property will be secured with electronic locks and cameras, Brenlove said.
“The first phase is 28 units,” he said. “There are two more phases after that, for a total of 90 to 100 units altogether,” he said.
Brenlove said he hopes to offer storage spaces from 50 to 300 square feet.“There are some larger rooms that could be rented, but if not, we'll split them up and increase the number (of units),” Brenlove said.Because the property was zoned agricultural, Brenlove went before the township zoning hearing board to get a variance for the project.The move required a public hearing so the neighbors of the property, who were notified of the request, could attend to ask questions and give input.“Several neighbors came to the hearing and they were happy with what we were planning to do,” Brenlove said.Jesse Hines, township zoning officer, agreed.“Some people wanted to see what was coming in, but nobody really expressed anything negative,” Hines said.Brenlove hopes to open the facility with hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 1.Irene Stacy provided mental health services to thousands of patients for decades before closing in 2015 due to financial difficulties.
