With eyesore razed, Tarentum focuses on Corbet Street beautification

Now that a blighted building has been demolished along Corbet Street in Tarentum, ideas are popping up about how to spruce up the business corridor.

A raised deck, a gazebo and a grandstand are among plans being considered by council.

“If there is built-in electricity, the borough can use it for Light Up Night or a Christmas tree,” borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said. “For Night Markets, we can have a live band.

“It will be a focal point of sorts.”

Demolition of a three-story building at Third Avenue took place in early March. It cost the borough about $39,000.

The project was significant because the former convenience store jutted into the street, sending traffic out of alignment at that intersection.

Now, council is hoping to streamline traffic and beautify the area with benches, a fence and landscaping.

The initial thought of adding parking spaces was dismissed.

“What are we going to put (in), four spaces?” council President Scott Dadowski asked.

Boddorf added: “I’m aware that we generally need more parking, but I have concern if we put spaces right in the middle of a four-way intersection.”

Mayor Bob Lang said the borough would safeguard against vandalism or other mischief at a potential gazebo.

“We’ll put a camera up there and tap it into the police department,” Lang said. “Maybe we can throw up a white fence and put a mural on it.”

Plans are in place to straighten the street, move a catch basin and get the road paved.

At the same time, council is considering improvements that would impact the entire stretch of Corbet.

Members are eyeing an empty lot between the old Grant Building and the former Isaly’s, which they consider an eyesore.

Boddorf said it would make a prime location for a parking lot or social space for town markets. He plans to reach out to the owner to discuss possibilities.

“If the buildings near it are being redone, having that as a pass-through and additional parking would be great,” Councilman Ray Kerr said. “Something has to be done with that.”

He also suggested refurbishing the tiles that spell out the Isaly name on the former deli/ice cream shop. The building now houses Merle Norman Cosmetics.

“Everyone still calls it the Isaly’s building,” he said. “It would really dress it up.”