Tarentum Council approves plan change at Holy Martyrs, soon to be a fitness center

A slight change of plans by the new owners of Holy Martyrs Church in Tarentum will see the building used for indoor soccer, rather than to house weights and treadmills.

Legends of Pittsburgh fitness center is expected to move from the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer to the 51-year-old church building at 344 W. Ninth Ave. after the sale closes in December.

An initial plan, which was approved as a conditional use by council in August, had the church used as a gym and a soon-to-be-built addition as a practice field. But engineering tests found the floor of the church won’t support the weight of the gym equipment, code enforcement officer Anthony Bruni said.

“They altered the plan and basically switched uses,” he said. “In the new addition, they’ll pour a concrete floor that can withstand the weight of the gym equipment.”

Council approved the proposal at its meeting Tuesday.

The gym is co-owned by Kiski Area graduate and former Pittsburgh Riverhounds professional soccer player Stefan Lundberg.

He is excited to operate in Tarentum, as the gym already draws many clients from the borough.

“We hope that we will attract even more once we are in a central location,” he said. “We are excited to offer all the same amenities we have now with both a gym and multiple turf spaces, but our biggest change will be having brand-new locker rooms — which we weren’t able to do at our current space.”

The 2.76-acre property in the West Tarentum neighborhood has a total assessed value of about $106,000 and a market value of about $860,000, according to Allegheny County Real Estate records.

The new construction is expected to be a prefabricated steel-frame building, about 60-by-120-feet, with a heavy-duty fabric covering.

“They’re going to put several windows on all four sides and garage doors that can be opened in nice weather,” Bruni said.

The planning commission recommended cement planters and parking bollards for added safety. The items would stop an out-of-control vehicle, Bruni said.

Mayor Bob Lang questioned the security of a fabric building, asking, “What’s to stop someone from cutting into it?”

Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said the design is akin to Army medical tents. There is a similar building used as a covered practice field on Duquesne University’s campus.

The fabric has a 30-year warranty, Bruni said.

The auxiliary building will connect to the church and have its own HVAC and lighting systems.

The main entrance to the facilities will be through the church, using a computerized key fob. There are 80 parking spaces available, plus an additional grassy area on the Grantham Street side of the building.

The 24-hour center will offer specialized services for training to people of all ages.

“We hope to make the strong community we have already built even stronger,” Lundberg said.

Holy Martyrs was among five churches in Guardian Angels Parish shuttered last year by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Tom Babinsack, Guardian Angels administrator, said parish officials declined to comment until the sale is complete.

Bruni said he is happy to get the building back on the borough tax rolls.

Councilwoman Carrie Fox agreed.

“I’m just happy someone’s utilizing it,” she said.