Site of former LA fitness eyed for new store in Bethel Park

The scene of a demolished building that housed fitness centers is proposed as the site for a new store.

Bethel Park Council approved the preliminary/final plan for Floor & Décor, to be located at 3000 Oxford Drive, where there previously was an LA Fitness and before that, Bally’s.

“I have been at the meetings when they have presented,” council member Jim Jenkins said July 8. “They have a nice plan for a new building they want to build up there, which will clean up a vacant parcel on Oxford Drive. They do have some hurdles to get through, but nothing too major.”

Floor & Decor offers a selection of tile, wood, stone, related tools and flooring accessories. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Atlanta.

In other council business:

• Police Chief Dave Arnold announced the department is partnering with Life Builders, a nonprofit gathering school supplies for children in need. A collection bin at the police station is accepting pens, pencils, paper, markers, crayons, notebooks and related items through Aug. 2.

• Arnold addressed issues that have been occurring on the Montour Trail. The department has received complaints of disorderly behavior by teenagers in the evening hours, including use of profanity, riding motorized vehicles with disregard to others’ safety, acts of vandalism and dumping garbage cans.

“The police department is looking for the public’s help,” Arnold said. “We are asking that anyone who observes this type of behavior notify the Bethel Park police when it is occurring.”

• Officer Amber DiFranco was introduced as the police departments’ newest community resource officer. DiFranco has been with Bethel Park for two years, following 13 years in the city of Pittsburgh.

“I have a lot of big ideas, I have a lot of programs that I want to bring back or reimplement. “In the meantime, I would love to hear from the community, from all of you,” DiFranco told council members, “what you want from us and how we can best serve you.”

• Mayor Jack Allen presented a certificate to George Washington Elementary School student Nora Buchanan recognizing her as one of the winners in the 2024 Litter Hawk Youth Award program.

Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the program provides ways for students at the elementary level to express thoughts revolving around litter through art, writing and video, according to Allen.

Following a theme of “Open your eyes to litter, show us what you see,” 1,000 students entered their work. Nora came out on top of the third grade category with her drawing.

“I think about it a lot,” she said. “I drew a few pictures on it.”

• Council awarded a $425,500 contract to low bidder Jet Jack Inc. of Collier/South Fayette for a new storm water tank to be installed at Elm Tree Park.

“This project is going to relieve a lot of downstream flooding in the Vista Glen area,” Jenkins said. “There are several streets that are impacted by the stormwater that begins up above Elm Tree Park. This will help that area out, and it’s going to make a lot of residents very happy.”

The goal of the municipality is to add the tank and then proceed with renovations to the park.