The former Butler Junior High and Middle School has been awarded to the second highest bidder after the first withdrew their bid.
During a Wednesday morning hearing an attorney representing Steve Mitnick withdrew his bid for the building. According to the attorney, delays in zoning that would cost the taxpayers and THE Butler Area School District money was the reason for pulling his bid.
The school will now be sold for $450,000 to Sumner McDanel, a real-estate developer. McDanel intends to turn the property into condos and store fronts. According to McDanel, the first floor of the building will be subdivided to accommodate small to mid-sized businesses. It could include businesses like fitness and health facilities, mom and pop retail stores, barber shops, professional offices, restaurants and more.
The upper floors will then be divided into mid to upper-scale residential homes. They’re expected to be two and three bedroom units.
McDanel believes this building will serve as a “destination for small businesses and startup businesses.”
Attorneys representing McDanel say he has the liquid assets on-hand and it’s expected the sale will close in the next 35 days.
