Sharon residents may rest easier now that a property owner says he will not rent his property to be used as a home for juvenile sex offenders.

Paul Knott, owner of a house at the corner of State Street and Strawbridge Avenue, said he will not rent his home to The Phoenix Youth Service Inc. to put in a group home for juvenile sex offenders.

Knott said when he was first approached by Mike Sember, owner of the Hermitage-based company, he was told it would be a center for "troubled teens."

It wasn't until he was approached by Sharon Mayor David O. Ryan and residents on Strawbridge that Knott said he learned of the true plans for the house.

"When I heard it was sexual offenders I went through the roof," Knott said.

Knott, the father of two small children, said he grew up in Sharon, has lived there for 36 years, owns his business in the city and would not want a group home for juvenile sex offenders in that neighborhood.

Knott said he was concerned by comments at the city council meeting. Previously Sember said the project was up in the air, and the home may be relocated to Allegheny County. Councilman Lou Rotunno said Thursday, "I think they're going to sneak it in."

"'They're' isn't Paul Knott," Knott said. "It's over. It's done with."

The house was set up as three separate rental units, one commercial and two residential, Knott said. He said the house was converted into one big unit for The Phoenix Youth Service but work is going to begin within a week to convert the house back to the three separate units.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at:
kgarrett@sharonherald.com