Long-vacant commercial property in State College back on the market after lawsuit
A commercial property along a heavily traveled State College corridor is back on the market after a Centre County judge denied a businessman’s attempt to overturn a judgment granting possession of the site to the landlord.
Centre County President Judge Jonathan Grine’s ruling left real estate investment company Welteroth Property group in control of 605 University Drive, which has sat vacant more than a decade after being purchased for $1 million.
The 0.7-acre property features existing gas station infrastructure, which commercial realtor Kandy Weader said makes it ideal for a convenience store or redevelopment.
The listing came about six months after the Lycoming County-based company sued Resham Dadra and others over an alleged failure to pay rent, taxes and other charges for nearly three years.
The agreement included an initial 10-year term with base rent set at $7,000 per month. But Welteroth said in its filing that Dadra fell behind on payments, never made up the difference and ignored multiple notices.
Grine ruled in the company’s favor in January after Dadra failed to respond to the lawsuit in time. The judge ordered Dadra to vacate the premises and awarded Welteroth nearly $250,000.
Dadra’s attorney unsuccessfully asked Grine to set aside the default and allow the lawsuit to proceed on the merits, saying the late response happened because of a misunderstanding about settlement discussions and deadlines.
“Counsel does not seek to imply any lack of courtesy or unprofessionalism on the part of Plaintiff’s counsel, but merely asserts the current procedural posture of the case is due to a degree of miscommunication on both parts and an equitable remedy would be to open the default judgment to permit Defendants to assert their defense,” attorney Carolyn Larrabee wrote.
A message left Wednesday morning with her office was not immediately returned. Attorney John Bee, who represented the real estate company, declined comment.
Grine denied the request because he said even that was filed nearly two months after the judgment was entered. It was not clear if Larrabee asked Grine to reconsider or appealed.
Dadra had hoped to renovate the property so it could reopen as a gas station and convenience store. Architectural renderings included a small sign near the proposed entrance that said “APlus” — a convenience store chain used by Sunoco.
Welteroth purchased the property at auction in 2015 after the state seized it earlier that year. The previous owner pleaded guilty to his role in a cocaine ring where state prosecutors said the site was used in the operation.