Foundations: Debt issues still blocking August Wilson Center sale

An appeal by a Bethel Park security firm owed $211,711 is complicating efforts to complete the sale of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture to three local foundations.

In a statement Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Foundation, the Heinz Endowments and the Richard King Mellon Foundation stressed that they want the issue involving International Investigative Services resolved before they will close on the property.

“We’ve said from the outset that the building has to be free and clear of any liens. This has to be resolved before we can proceed,” said John Ellis, a Heinz Endowments spokesman who was speaking for the consortium.

However, Mr. Ellis added that the security firm’s appeal was the “kind of detail that happens at this stage of closure proceedings of this kind and we expect it to be resolved.”

Nonetheless, the foundations’ stance has sent court-appointed conservator Judith Fitzgerald scrambling to try to find the money to settle with International Investigative.

Ms. Fitzgerald could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but Scott Hare, lawyer for the security firm, said he has been speaking with attorneys involved in the August Wilson case.

“There’s no agreement in place,” he said.

His client last week appealed to state Superior Court the decision by Judge Lawrence O’Toole of Allegheny County Common Pleas Orphans’ Court to approve the sale to the foundations for $8.49 million free and clear of all liens.

The firm, which provided security at the Downtown building, has a $211,711 judgment against the center but was not paid in the sale. It wants a lien to remain on the property.

If the foundations do not close on the building by the end of the week, Dollar Bank, which holds the $7.9 million delinquent mortgage on the property, plans to take it to sheriff sale Monday.

Dollar filed a motion Wednesday asking to have Baker Young Corporation appointed as receiver for the property in the event the closing does not take place.