While work is underway at the site of a former Sheetz on Plum’s Golden Mile Highway, the future of the property is unclear.
Crews were seen this week dismantling and removing the last pieces of the canopy of the shuttered convenience store and gas station.
Sheetz closed the location at Pine Valley Drive when it opened its new store nearby at Presque Isle Drive, where a Kings Family Restaurant and part of Presque Isle Plaza were torn down to make way for it.
Sheetz did not own the original property at 2003 Golden Mile Highway. Toro Development is the owner of three parcels at that corner, two of which are vacant, according to Allegheny County real estate records.
A representative of Sampson-Morris Group, listed as the tax mailing address for the property, was unable to provide any information about the property.
The canopy was not the only thing removed at the old location. Three underground storage tanks, dispensers and product lines also were removed, said Lauren Camarda, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Owners of underground storage tanks are required to notify the DEP at least 30 days before they are permanently closed, she said. Permanent closure requires that the tanks be emptied and either removed from the ground or filled with an inert solid material.
The DEP has not yet received a required closure report on the tanks, which would include sampling results, Camarda said.
“If any contamination is found during the closure process, under the regulations, the owner would be responsible to remediate the site in accordance with the corrective action process for storage tank owners,” she said.
According to a sign at the property, it is available for lease through Oxford Realty Services. The listing agent, Arthur DiDonato, did not respond to requests for comment.
Plum Manager David Soboslay said the borough has no new information about the property.
The borough has not received an application to demolish the building, Soboslay said.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
