Future of former youth development center remains unclear

SHENANGO TWP. — State Rep. Aaron Bernstine is happy the former New Castle Youth Development Center will be back on the market.

“It’s fantastic news for folks here in Lawrence County,” he said.

The 150-acre property was under contract to Asif Munwar, the owner of Islamic education company Hira Education Services, but Bernstine said the company didn’t hold up its end.

“Hira failed to meet their financial obligations on the deal and completing that process,” Bernstine said. “Now it will go up for bid 30 days from (Monday).”

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Hira won the bid to buy the property for $400,000 in May.

“Hira Education consultants, they won the bid, but our belief along the entire way is that they colluded during that bid,” Bernstine said. “Two people that had a relationship with one another, a husband and wife, both bid on the same property.”

Jon Pushinsky, an attorney for Hira, told Channel 11 Bernstine is “wrong” and the company won the bid legally.

He said recent lawsuits surrounding how Hira won the bid are slowing the process to close the deal.

“We have asked the commonwealth to extend that time to allow the litigation process that was initiated by Shenango Township,” he said, adding that Hira will re-bid on the property if the deal fails.

“We’re going to continue to try to follow through,” he said.

Bernstine wants to find a buyer to transform the property.

“Anybody out there that’s interested in bringing a company and good solid jobs right here to Lawrence County, and also the Beaver and Butler County area, we welcome them with open arms,” he said.

Cox Media Group