CLEARFIELD – On Thursday night Clearfield Borough Council took action to break ties with a developer brought on to develop riverfront property.
Council agreeg do notify Bob Yoder of default of his developer’s agreement. According to the motion, “We recognize the desire of the residents of Clearfield to move forwad with this project and feel that we have waited long enough for Mr. Yoder to secure his funding and begin the project.”
The borough’s agreed to pay Yoder $40,000 in four increments. Clearfield Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott said he was paid $10,000.
In 2007 the borough enlisted Yoder and Impact PA to develop riverfront property in the borough. In November 2008 Yoder said that he intended to build three duplexes on the Novey property that was offered as a gift to the borough.
Another project adjacent to that property was on the Rishel Contracting and Tool Shed properties. Yoder said he would like to build a three-story building. This building would contain commercial space as well as 16 two-bedroom apartments.
Across the river, Yoder was looking to purchase the former Uni-Mart building. Yoder also said he was in negotiations with the property owners of the buildings behind that building as well as the men’s shelter to obtain those properties as well. There he planned to build two more duplexes.
According to Yoder all of the duplexes would be on the borough’s tax roll.
However, since that announcement, very little happened. The Uni-Mart building is currently for sale, and none of the other properties changed hands.
While the borough looks to break away from Yoder, they still intend to go forward with development.
“We intend on developing riverfront properties,” said Clearfield Borough Operations Manager Leslie Stott.
She added that the borough is working with the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation on the project now.