KDKA Investigates: Greenfield Property Dispute Goes To Mediator

GREENFIELD (KDKA) -- It's a battle that's divided a neighborhood in Greenfield.  One group claims a piece of land and steps are public but the other says it's theirs alone and has told neighbors it is off limits.

"It's going to cause a civil war down here," said Steve "Lefty" Sturm.

Beth Cronin, who bought the land, insisted she has done nothing wrong.

"I own this. Anybody could have bought it. I have been completely bullied in this thing," Cronin said.

For generations, folks on Coyne Terrace had used the pathway and steps to get to Winterburn Street.

When the land went up on treasurer's sale for delinquent taxes, Cronin bought it and blocked it off.

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"For the people who have to commute, use the buses, go to school, this stairway is vital. People use it all the time and now you can't use it," said Gregory Walsh.

Attorneys for Coyne Terrace have produced city documents indicating that the pathway and steps are a public right of way and should never have gone up for sale but attorneys for Cronin say they bought it fair and square.

"There's no question it's a legitimate sale," said Cronin's attorney James DePasquale.

Finally, both sides have agreed to mediation and that mediator will try to arrive at a plan that both sides can live with.

"Everyone could go about their life without being consumed by what I view as nonsense, then I think it's best that we get the thing settled and resolved," DePasquale said.

A potential solution  would somehow involve giving the residents access to a pathway and the steps and allowing the Cronin's ownership to the rest the property. Whether that's possible remains to be seen. Walsh and other would rather the city just void the sale.

"I want this returned to the status it was three years ago. Put it back the way it was and acknowledge your mistake, meaning, the city," Walsh said.