A real estate firm contracted by the Pittsburgh Public Schools is seeking bids for five district properties, including four former school buildings.

Fourth River Development LLC said last week that the district approved requests for proposals to prospective bidders on the properties that range in price from $55,000 to $350,000. 

The former school buildings up for bid include Arlington Elementary in Arlington, Bon Air Elementary School in Bon Air, Mann Elementary School in Marshall-Shadeland and Belmar Elementary School in Homewood. A 23-acre land parcel in New Homestead also was made available.

“To effectively manage all district assets, Pittsburgh Public Schools selected Fourth River Development to initiate an Asset Plan to maximize the value of a portfolio of 21 closed school properties within the city,” Pittsburgh Public Schools said in a statement. “Through its asset plan, the district aims to lessen its capital expense, place the buildings back on the tax roll, and create assets that add to the community.”

Pat Morosetti, principal and director of brokerage at Fourth River, said in a phone interview that Fourth River has sold 16 of the 21 properties for the Pittsburgh Public Schools over the past several years. He said there has been some interest in the five remaining properties, but for certain reasons no sale has worked out. 

“It’s just not finding the right buyer who can figure out exactly what to do with a property, whether there’s some limitations in terms of size, economics or parking,” Mr. Morosetti said. “It’s a hard answer to give, but we are where we are. I think putting [a request for proposal] out to the market and kind of just making these opportunities very visible to the marketplace and putting a specific time frame around a response to that might help.”

Mr. Morosetti said he has received a few phone calls and emails about the properties now up for bid, but there has been “nothing meaningful” as the RFP process is still in the early stages. Proposals are due Feb. 14.

Fourth River said Pittsburgh Public Schools was seeking redevelopment proposals that will benefit both the district and communities where the properties were located.

The district wants proposals that will “achieve high-quality development, that complements adjacent properties and enhances the surrounding community,” Fourth River said. 

The proposals should also “provide financial benefits to the district and the local community, including, but not limited to, new tax revenues and secondary financial impacts,” and “support and strengthen local community revitalization efforts, historic preservation of selected sites and environmental sustainability.” 

Additionally, the proposals should give opportunities for community input and create opportunities for minority-, women- and disability-owned businesses, Fourth River said.

“It’s critical for the district — and always has been — that it benefits not just the district and other government agencies such as the county and the city in terms of putting some of these schools back on the tax rolls,” Mr. Morosetti said, “but the direct benefits to the community in which these schools are located play a significant role in this process.”

Andrew Goldstein: agoldstein@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1352.

First Published: January 13, 2020, 11:00 a.m.