Slippery Rock to close deal on Main Street lot
SLIPPERY ROCK — Nearly a year after entering into an agreement of sale for the grass lot at 100 S. Main St., both the borough and the new prospective owner are ready to close.
Slippery Rock Borough Council voted unanimously Tuesday evening, April 21, to authorize borough manager Christian Laskey to close the sale of the lot with its prospective buyer, Great Living LLC. The sale is set to officially close on May 27.
According to Laskey, council agreed to a price of $250,000 for the lot located at the intersection of Main and New Castle streets. Before the sale, it was used by the borough for community events and as the spot for the borough Christmas tree.
The new owner is looking to develop a “three to four-story mixed-use residential/commercial building,” township solicitor Rebecca Black said.
Great Living LLC is owned by Jerry Oliver, who also owns Oliver Outdoor and several other real estate businesses. Council members previously said they were familiar with Oliver’s other work and were pleased with his plans for the property.
The lot was first purchased by the borough in 2016 for $250,000, creating debt for the borough that it is still paying off. With the funds procured in the sale, the borough plans to address the remaining $175,000 or so tied up in debt service.
The process began over a year ago when officials tried to sell the lot through public bidding. It received no offers.
However, on April 1, 2025, borough solicitor Rebecca Black said she learned boroughs can engage in private negotiations if they do not receive bids within 15 days of a second advertisement for a sale. As a result, the borough was able to consider two offers in private, from Great Living LLC and NexTier Bank.
Clem Rosenberger, CEO of NexTier Bank, attended the April 2025 meeting to ask council to reconsider his offer of $300,000 and the donation of the current bank location on Main Street. Council declined both on legal grounds and confidence in their decision.
An agreement of sale was officially entered in May 2025, with a planned end of the due diligence period on Oct. 31. However, the date was delayed multiple times to early 2026.
The next scheduled borough council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5.
