Crossroads Plaza plan revived in Lower Burrell

The owner is new, but the plans to redevelop Crossroads Plaza remain largely the same.

Bruce Thaler of Altoona-based BT Group said he will bring in a Sheetz gas station and renovate the former Prizant's Carpet building in the plaza, which sits at Leechburg and Craigdell roads in Lower Burrell.

Thaler acquired the property in August from the previous developer, Steven Arciuolo.

Arciuolo's development group ran into financial problems and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. The case was transferred to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy about a year later and was closed in August, according to court documents.

Thaler declined to discuss the sale price, but he said he will be making a multimillion-dollar investment between the purchase and the upgrades. Federal court documents indicate the property's value was estimated at $5.5 million in 2009.

Thaler plans to implement Arciuolo's plan of moving several tenants into the former Prizant's Carpet storefront, which was vacated in 2007 when the company went out of business.

The 12,000-square-foot space will be gutted and given a major face-lift.

"It's going to look dynamite," Thaler said.

Thaler said almost all of the tenants have committed to moving into the new space, including the state liquor store, the Curves fitness center, a AAA office and a doctor's office.

A Little Caesar's Pizza parlor also is expected to move in.

Once the tenants are relocated — possibly as soon as January — their spaces will be demolished to make way for the Sheetz convenience store.

The vacant building once occupied by Rita's Italian Ice will be torn down.

Demolition could start in early spring, and the Sheetz might open in summer, Thaler said.

Although Crossroads Plaza will be one of the few projects he takes on that is not entirely new construction, Thaler said he frequently develops properties with Sheetz in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The closest local development Thaler is associated with is a Sherwin-Williams store in Cranberry.

Lower Burrell Mayor Don Kinosz said Thaler has been very responsive since the city began contacting him last month.

Kinosz was pleased to learn most of the tenants will remain in Lower Burrell.

"This shows confidence in the area," Kinosz said. "This will be a major improvement."

Thaler said Aldi, the discount grocery store on the far side of the plaza, will remain unchanged.

"We have two great leaders in retail here with Sheetz and Aldi," Thaler said.

Kinosz called the two chains solid anchors.

"It'll be a totally different gateway to the city," Kinosz said.