Plans shared for former youth development center site

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Channel 11 is getting new details about the controversial sale of the former New Castle Youth Development Center in Shenango Township.

The community raised concerns about the company's history and the legitimacy of the bidding process.

The building has sat empty for nearly five years, which is a far cry from the former juvenile detention center that employed more than 300 people for decades.

"Our services will be open to everybody," said Asif Kunwar, owner of Hira Educational Services. "Even by Islam, we are required to provide services to everybody."

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Kunwar won a $400,000 bid to take over the property in May.

In an exclusive interview with Channel 11's Aaron Martin, he discussed re-opening it as an education center for troubled young people, with no religious affiliation.

"Whether it's the Muslim community or the non-Muslim community or anybody," Kunwar said. "Basically, we would like to have a positive outcome for our youth and at the same time have a positive outcome for the area."

The outcome of the sale could be in the hands of the Lawrence County District Attorney, who is investigating possible collusion in bidding for the property.

Two of the three bids submitted for the state owned site came from Kunwar and Hira Educational Services.

Some state and township officials are claiming collusion, an accusation Kunwar denies.

“I cannot collude with myself, he said. "My relationship with Hira is open, well-documented and disclosed. Everything is there.”

But state representative Aaron Bernstine says this is about transparency and making sure the process worked properly.

"The fact that we don't know exactly what happened as it deals with this process, it's very important that the District Attorney takes a deep-dive look at this," said Bernstine, R-New Beaver Borough.

It's unclear how any potential findings from the district attorney will impact the sale, which is expected to be completed at the end of this month.

Kunwar hopes to have the facility up and running in the next 12 to 18 months.

Cox Media Group