Public can weigh in on future of Tarena roller rink

Tarentum council on Tuesday will provide the public with a chance to weigh in on the proposed transformation of the Tarena roller rink.

A Wexford-based construction company hopes to buy the 50-year-old skating rink and use it as a storage facility.

Bridges & Co. is seeking a conditional use zoning approval for an industrial use. The building, at 209 Lock St., is currently zoned commercial.

Council is scheduled to have a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the borough office at 318 E. Second Ave.

Anyone who wants to submit a comment in advance of the hearing should email borough Manager Michael Nestico by 2 p.m. Tuesday at mnestico@tarentumboro.com.

Comments can also be dropped off to the borough office.

Borough planning commission member Cindy Homburg said the four-person board has recommended the approval to council. The planning commission met in January to hear the proposal.

“At first we were kind of split but we came to the decision that it’s better to have something in there than nothing,” Homburg said.

Several people posted to social media about fond memories of the roller rink, which was a favorite spot for children and teens throughout the decades. There was skating, of course, and then weekend dances. Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Seger performed a concert there.

Some people remarked about the large mirror ball that hung from the ceiling and others said they hoped memorabilia would be preserved and put on display somewhere local.

Owners had to shut down in 2020 because of the pandemic and have said it is too expensive to get operations going again.

Bridges & Co. officials said the space would be used for storing small tools and industrial equipment such as scaffolding, heaters and ladders. There could be minor contracting work as well.

If the zoning change is approved, Marquart said, the building would get a new roof or repairs, along with a garage door at the rear of the building along Plum Alley. The building could be painted or sided.

There wouldn’t be any employees on most days, Marquart said.

Homburg said she initially worried about too much traffic because of the houses that sit nearby, but Marquart said there would be one truck in and out on a daily basis.

“I really wanted to see someone in there that would bring employees to town and people who would eat and shop here,” Homburg said. “But, we decided it was better to have someone fix the building than leave it sit.”