Redevelopment plans approved for retail properties along Route 88

Demolitions, new buildings planned

Two Bethel Park retail locations, including Bethel Park Shopping Center on Route 88, will be getting a new look in coming months.

Bethel Park council this week approved a redevelopment plan for the shopping center, which is anchored by a Walmart and a Giant Eagle grocery.

Council also approved land development and lot consolidation plans for Parkside Center at Library and South Park roads.

The front lots on the Bethel Park Shopping Center property will eventually be home to five to six new buildings, said Mark Salma, vice president of redevelopment for Brixmor Property Group of Farmington, Mich., the developer of the site.

Mr. Salma said the Firestone auto center will be torn down, but the Wendy’s restaurant will remain.

The new redevelopment of the frontage along the shopping center will take place “over the course of five years,” with about one building being built per year, he said.

The site of Parkside Center, which is owned by Parkside Center LP, is home to Bethel Deli and other businesses. The building, along with a former Elks lodge building, will be torn down to make way for the new development. The Papa John’s Pizza shop will stay at its current location. A timeline was not given for the project.

Councilman Paul Dixon called the project “a very exciting redevelopment along the Route 88 corridor.”

“I think it’s pretty exciting we’re going to have this kind of development along there,” he said.