Blackburn's to raze Tarentum building for parking lot
Blackburn’s Physician’s Pharmacy plans to tear down a building it recently bought on East Fourth Avenue in Tarentum and use the lot for employee parking.
The Tarentum-based company is working on getting the required permits from Allegheny County and bids from contractors to take down the building at 326 E. Fourth Ave., said Randy Prunty, business development manager for Blackburn’s.
The company has not yet submitted any documents to the borough, according to code enforcement officer Anthony Bruni.
Blackburn’s, a provider of medical equipment, supplies and services, has more than 100 employees at four locations in Tarentum and needs more off-street parking for them, Prunty said.
Founded in 1936, Blackburn’s is owned by Chuck Blackburn, Ron Rukas and Tom Blackburn.
“Our business is expanding,” Prunty said. “The owners feel strongly that they want to keep the corporate presence here in Tarentum.”
Blackburn’s bought the property in June for $23,000, according to Allegheny County real estate records. It had an assessed value of $51,000.
The building was vacant and gutted when Blackburn’s acquired it, Prunty said. In recent years it had housed a barber shop, DiCaro’s, and a uniform boutique.
The lot could possibly be used for a new building, but Prunty said the company has no immediate building plans.
“The goal is to improve the downtown business section, get rid of dilapidated buildings where they make sense in relation to our business and utilize that space as best we need it,” he said. “Right now, parking is our immediate need.”
Prunty said Blackburn’s goal is to have the building razed before winter.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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