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The availability of a $1.9 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education should not be the seed for an incorrect decision by Penn Highlands Community College regarding the possible relocation of its Blair Center, now housed in the Logan Valley Mall.
The college needs to be concerned at all times about its long-term best interests; that should not be questioned or second-guessed.
But within that realm of concern, it must make certain that it weighs the complete range of its local existence, stacked against potential alternatives.
It must examine minor considerations as well as the big ones -- so no question or point of interest is found to be unaddressed when the day comes for a decision on where the Blair Center will be "planted" after December 2027.
December 2027 is when the college's lease of space in the Logan Valley Mall will expire, but the college has the option to negotiate a new "certificate of presence."
Pursuing that option is not as obvious as it might seem, however. Hovering over the mall property is a troubling history of deterioration at the hands of the mall's owner, Namdar Realty Group.
At this time there's no way to predict if or when Namdar will effect a positive turnaround regarding the mall's condition, but Namdar might not have to be part of such an effort. A local investor group is interested in purchasing the mall, according to the Altoona-Blair County Development Corp., although there is no guarantee that the purchase actually will be forthcoming.
Possibly insurmountable disagreement might exist over the purchase price, although hopefully the situation will not shake out that way.
Regarding Penn Highlands, the news about the investor group's interest should be an incentive for the college not to be hasty about moving, even if such a temptation were to emerge. The potential new owners reportedly envision a mixed-use facility, not one necessarily based predominantly on retail.
The mall's future under the new owners, if the purchase materializes, seems destined to be a multi-service facility potentially benefiting many elements of the community's -- and region's -- population, as well as the community itself.
Penn Highlands and its student body would be "at home" amid such a facility.
That's one of the key considerations for Penn Highlands, looking forward. However, there are numerous others such as:
-- The easy accessibility of the mall property.
-- The availability of ample parking.
-- The availability of numerous "off-property" restaurants and shopping opportunities.
-- The availability of bus and taxi services.
-- The existence of a large public library at a non-prohibitive distance from the Blair Center.
-- The reality that the Altoona-Logan Township area is predominantly a clean, safe place to attend classes, study, work and live.
Altoona and Logan Township, then, are ideal for Penn Highlands' long-term future. In reality, that grant total of $1.9 million can be judged small, compared to what benefits already exist here.
Steve Nunez, Penn Highlands' president, has said that if the community college decides to remain at the mall, the state will not release the awarded $1.9 million in question.
"We don't know for sure whether that's (moving) what we're doing," he said. "No decisions have been made, but that's what the money would be used for, and if we don't use it, then the state doesn't write us a check."
Indeed, Penn Highlands is right in studying all of its options. However, in the long run, refusing that $1.9 million could very well, someday, be judged as the most important decision/investment made on the college's behalf.