5 parcels transferred to redevelopment authority along 4th Avenue in Arnold

Arnold continues to benefit from a recent zoning change on the 1300 block of Fourth Avenue.

Council on Tuesday night approved the transfer of five former residential parcels on that block to the city’s redevelopment authority for business use.

Properties at 1339, 1341, 1349 and 1351 likely will be used for a new building for Joe Cene’s dumpster business, Triple P Disposal. The business is now housed at his home in Buffalo Township and at rented space on Powers Drive in New Kensington.

A fifth parcel sold at 1362 Fourth Ave. would be used to expand Michael Whalen Contracting. The Whalen family built a headquarters for their business on parcels next to that address on Fourth Avenue.

The area was rezoned from residential to commercial light industrial.

“This has absolutely worked out for us,” said Rick Rayburg, community development director, on the rezoning. “We now have two businesses located there.”

The area formerly contained abandoned and dilapidated structures near the city’s boundary with New Kensington. Arnold broke away from New Kensington in 1896 because of various political disputes and formed its own municipality in what began as New Kensington’s 2nd Ward five years earlier.

The lots, set up in that era, were only 20 feet wide and 120 feet deep. The size was thought to be too small to attract commercial development.

All five resolutions passed with 4-0 votes from Mayor Joseph Bia and Councilmen George Howdon, Phillip McKinley and Adam Zweig. Councilwoman Deborah Vernon was absent.