Business & Tech
Highland CC Update: Farewell Visits, Video, Court Conference
The clubhouse could be razed in the next month.
Farewell Visits & Video
Former members, historical buffs, and the curious wandered through the abandoned clubhouse and dining room of the former Highland Country Club in Ross Township Sunday.
Most were there for the memories, others for what they could take. In the end, police were called to clear the building.
"The attorney for the developer of the property tells me it will be boarded up and secured," said District Magistrate Richard Opiela, who is advising the former country club's three trustees.
John Schalcosky, President of the Ross Township and West View Historical Societies, has posted hundreds of pictures of the country club in its heyday, and its current state of decline.
"I wanted to capture the clubhouse's last days, before the building is demolished," he said. "From what I understand, the building could be razed in the next month. I was happy that I could initiate the very last social gathering Highland Country Club will ever have, and to pay my last respects to the Reel family home, which will soon be just another fading memory of our ever growing history."
Patch blogger Dan Burda was also there, and produced a video mixing current and former pictures of the country club, along with interviews with former members.
Court Conference
A few weeks after Ross Township Commissioners voted 5-4 to reject a preliminary plan for 167 townhouses and 134 single family homes on the grounds of the former Highland Country Club, Commissioner Chris Eyster expressed hope the developer would be willing to sit down a consider new options for the plan.
However, Eyster said Tuesday it appears the developer, Limerick Land Partners, isn't interested in talking to anyone, but a judge at the moment.
An appeal has been filed with Allegheny County Joseph James who has scheduled a conference with attorneys from both sides on September 9.
Commissioners Eyster, Lana Mazur, Jerry O'Brien, Grace Stanko and commission Chairman Grant Montgomery voted against the plan primarily because they felt the developer hadn't adequately addressed traffic issues.
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