Diamond Antiques building gets makeover ahead of 100th anniversary

It’s hard to miss the new and improved Diamond Antiques building in Tarentum.

Painted bright white, the formerly drab brown building sticks out along the Sixth Avenue business district. The storefront is appointed with a stark black-and-white striped awning

“There’s been so many comments, and everyone seems to love it,” owner Dianna Roney said. “A couple of old men were mad that I painted the bricks.”

Work was done ahead of the building’s 100th anniversary next year. While she wanted to mark the occasion, Roney said she mainly was hoping to spur revitalization in the business district.

Tarentum is expected in August to launch a grant program to help small-business owners spruce up their storefront facades.

A total of $50,000 will be distributed to 10 owners, five in East Tarentum and five on the west side.

Money will come from the borough’s electric fund. Borough manager Dwight Boddorf said no tax dollars will be used.

There are about 150 businesses in the borough.

Councilwoman Carrie Fox is eager to get the program started. She said the business corridors are the heart of the borough.

Something as minor as a new sign or window décor can make a difference, Fox said.

Boddorf said council members will not be evaluating the applications so there is no appearance of impropriety. A few members own businesses in town: Brian Snyder owns skate and tie-dye shop Dry Bones, and Kevin Bertocki owns Asay’s newsstand, both along Sixth Avenue.

Grants will be recommended by an outside committee.

“We want the grant program to be as fair and transparent as possible,” Boddorf said.

Applications will be available online.

Roney, who has owned the vintage store for 17 years, said she believes the beautification will be contagious.

“I think everyone feels better when things look better,” she said. “I’m hoping that, once people hear about the borough’s grant program and see what a difference my building took on, they might want to do the same.”