Task Force Recommends Bridgeville, PA Hospital Site to be Sold; Buildings Contaminated with Asbestos

In July 2009, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the final draft report from the Mayview State Hospital Land Reuse Task Force recommended the property be sold. The Bridgeville, PA property, the site of a former state hospital that treated the elderly and infirm, is contaminated with asbestos.

The majority of the 240-acre site is undeveloped, with only 35 percent of the land covered by pavement or buildings. The buildings on the site include the 100-year old Mayview State Hospital building, which was closed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare in 2008. 70 acres of the property serve as wetland mitigation, with approximately 100 acres available in both the upper and lower portions of the property.

The Task Force’s proposed recommendations include:

That the property be sold at fair market value and sale proceeds be put into a restricted account for mental health/mental retardation housing and services;

That any future buyer be required to set aside or sell the upper portion of the property to the local township for recreational use purposes;

That solicitation proposals for the sale of the property conform to land use plans for the township and county;

That measures be taken to ensure the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas and that conservation easements for area creek, wetlands, steep slopes and wooded areas are established; and

That a memorial be erected and dedicated to individuals who lived or were treated at the Mayview Hospital facility.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, contact our lawyers today for a free review of your case. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.