Vacant Tarentum property to become parking lot

A vacant Tarentum property near the defunct Tarena skating rink is expected to be transformed into a parking lot this year.

Bridges & Co., the construction outfit that purchased the Tarena, also is seeking to buy the nearby property at 204 Lock St., zoning officer Anthony Bruni said.

“They would use it for employee parking, and it would free up some parking spaces for residents,” Bruni said.

Bridges, a Wexford-based construction company, purchased the Tarena in 2021 to use as a storage facility and staging area.

Tarena owners shut down the roller rink in 2020 because of the pandemic, saying it was too expensive to resume operations.

Representatives at Bridges were not available for comment.

Bruni said the purchase of the vacant lot supports the company being a good neighbor.

“We asked them to get some cars off the street, and we think this is a good use of the property,” Bruni said.

As proposed, the lot would make space for about 12 vehicles. It would not be open for public parking.

Council President Scott Dadowski said he appreciates that the space will move employee vehicles off the street and open more room for resident parking.

“I think it’s a sign they are investing in the borough,” he said. “Buying a second property and using it in this way is a win-win.”

The lot at 204 Lock St. has been empty since a fire destroyed a home there in 2021.

Bruni said a closing date for the property is expected to be scheduled in the coming months.

In other news, council approved a move to no longer allow signs and flyers to be posted on borough utility poles.

Citing safety issues, members said it also fits with the borough’s cleanup efforts.

Violators will be charged with a summary offense and could face a fine of $300 to $1,000.