The Kane Armory may be granted a chance at new life.

State Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, announced on Wednesday that he introduced legislation to authorize the sale of the property.

The legislation was presented at the request of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

“The armory has been sitting vacant for a few years and is now costing the Commonwealth nearly $10,000 annually to maintain,” Causer said. “It would be helpful to taxpayers to have the property put to productive use and placed on the tax rolls.”

The sale would be for two separate properties, which would be sold through competitive bidding.

A statement from Causer’s office describes the properties: “The first includes the armory building, which is just under 16,000 square feet in size, and a detached three-bay concrete block garage sitting on approximately 0.34 acres. The second property is known as the weekend training site and consists of a fenced compound, large metal storage building and small storage sheds on approximately 1.46 acres.”

“This is a one-of-a-kind facility in any community,” said Sherri Geary, director of McKean County Economic Development, explaining that the structure is in good condition and offers many possibilities.

“It has been well maintained, is an architectural gem, a solid structure and a community asset,” she said. “Armories have a large historic preservation and tourism audience. If properly developed, it could be another visitor attraction for our region.”

She noted that the state will continue to maintain the property until it is transferred to the new owner.

According to Causer, “The armory was built in 1922 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

As an historic place, when the property first goes up for bid, potential purchasers will be asked to accept an historic preservation covenant.

“The person or entity that purchases the building with the covenant would receive a discount on the property in exchange for the preservation of the building,” Causer’s statement stated. “If the property is not sold in the first round of bidding, the covenant would be removed for the second bid request.”

The historic covenant means that “all future physical improvements on the property has to be done in accordance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards,” said Geary. “Character defining features have to be maintained. I believe the members of the Kane community would like the covenant adhered to as well.”

According to the armory’s National Register of Historic Places form, it includes a brick art deco-style building with an addition that was built in 1929.

For now, the bill that would authorize the sale is waiting for consideration in the House State Government Committee, according to Causer.

There has been some discussion in the borough about how the properties could be used.

Geary explained, “In previous meetings with the Kane borough Manager Don Payne and community members, they indicated that they would like to pursue a development that would fit in with the neighborhood and one that would benefit the entire community.”

While a new owner would be able to find many uses for the site, Geary envisions the positive affect an arts- or wellness-related facility could have on the community.

“The former Armory sits on 2.58 acres and could be repurposed as a Community Theater space, Arts Center to teach classes in painting, ceramics and woodworking,” she said. “It could also provide county artists with retail gallery space. With shower facilities, it could be used as a fitness, yoga and/or community center. It would be an asset to attach the reuse of the property to the ongoing effort of the PA Wilds Artisan strategy.

“The Armory has office space that could be used to house staff members of the Arts Center and a dry open basement,” she added.

For anyone willing to purchase the property and put the time into maintaining the historic appearance, Geary is able to offer assistance in many ways.

“My office can assist with preparing a feasibility study grant for adaptive reuse through the Keystone Preservation Project Grant Program, funding for façade improvements or a small business loan with a traditional lending partner as a participant.”

There may be funding or tax credits available, too, to assist with the property’s preservation.

“In May of 2016, Bill Callahan, the Western PA Community Preservation Officer for PHMC (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission), provided the community members who attended a meeting facilitated by the office of Economic Development with a road map of opportunities in regard to state funding for this historic property,” said Geary.

“Additional funding includes, federal and state income tax credits for the owner,” she added.

Spending a little extra time and money into planning may mean the difference between a successful project and a failing project. Officials recommend doing research before entering into a venture.

“In my view and the view of PHMC it may be wise to develop a market analysis/study or ‘community business plan’ based in part on the town’s historic resources and tied to the adaptive re-use and marketing of those resources. In particular, the Kane Armory property,” said Geary.

“A study could help accurately identify the niche Kane’s historic resources might fill in a local and regional economy that includes significant opportunities related to arts and culture, heritage tourism, outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation,” she said.