York RDA appears stuck with $1.25M bill for old jail after court refuses to hear appeal In a one-sentence order, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear the Redevelopment Authority of the City of York's latest appeal.

Dylan Segelbaum | York Daily Record

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The Redevelopment Authority of the City of York appears to be stuck paying $1.25 million — plus more than $240,000 in interest — for the old York County Prison that’s been abandoned for decades.

In a one-sentence order, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear the authority’s latest appeal in an eminent domain case.

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John and Joyce Gearhart bought the property in 1982 for $51,500. It’s on Chestnut Street in York, not far from PeoplesBank Park.

In 2014, the RDA initiated eminent domain proceedings. The Board of Viewers determined that fair market value was $65,000 and awarded $4,000 for attorney fees. But a jury took less than 30 minutes to find that the site was worth $1.25 million.

David Snyder, the Gearharts’ attorney, could not be reached on Thursday. Shilvosky Buffaloe, secretary of the RDA, referred questions to its solicitor, Don Hoyt, and chairman, Michael Black.

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Right now, interest is accruing at $188 per day.

John Gearhart died in 2016. He was 79.

Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.

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