HARRISBURG – Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) demanded the sale or reuse of the vacant White Haven Center after hearing serious concerns from residents of the surrounding communities about the lack of progress at the site.
The center was shut down in 2023 by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services without community or legislative input. Since then, it has sat unused and empty, leaving taxpayers on the hook to maintain empty buildings.
“Taxpayers are insisting that the state return this site to productive use immediately,” said Argall. “Spending millions of taxpayer dollars each year maintaining them with their future uncertain is completely irresponsible. If we do not receive a concrete plan soon from the Shapiro administration, we are prepared to take further legislative and legal action to force a resolution.”
Argall highlighted the example of the former Allentown State Hospital as the worst-case scenario for a similar site. The building required millions of taxpayer dollars each year for upkeep and security until it was finally razed in 2020 – ten years after it was closed.
Argall announced legislation with Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-21) and Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) to demand a detailed plan from the Pennsylvania Department of General Services on how these properties will be utilized. The legislation also addresses the Hamburg Center, which was shut down in 2018, and the Polk Center, which was closed in 2023.
The legislation will require the administration to give the legislature exact estimates for the yearly costs of each property since the institutions were closed, expected costs associated with each property if they are not sold, and costs relating to demolition or refurbishment of the buildings at each property.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger