The owner of Rostraver Ice Garden said Wednesday that he plans to rebuild the section that was damaged in a roof collapse last month, as efforts continue to sell the recreational facility.
"It's been for sale for two years," Jim Murphy said yesterday. "I still have a commitment to rebuild. You can have both."
A roughly 100-by-200-foot section of the ice arena's roof and three supporting wooden trusses collapsed Feb. 14 under the weight of heavy snow. At the time, about 100 people were inside the 50-year-old building on Route 51 in Rostraver. All escaped without injury.
A for-sale notice with a $2.95 million asking price was listed this week.
Murphy said what he receives from his $3.5 million insurance policy will play a major role in the rebuilding plans. A clause in the policy might require him to pay some of the costs, which could mean a need for fundraising or a bank loan to rebuild, he said.
"The deciding factor is if we get enough money from the insurance. I think the answer is yes," Murphy said.
Engineers for the insurance company and rink are assessing the damage with an eye on completing detailed plans for state officials for demolition and removal of debris, Murphy said. He said he wishes the process could go faster.
Trusses on each end of the rink have been determined to be in good shape, Murphy said. The new construction and roof would be built between those two building segments, he explained.
Jim Kelly of real estate listing agent Grubb & Ellis of Pittsburgh said a few people have inquired about the property, but he believes Murphy wants to complete the rebuilding before possibly selling the facility.
"Mr. Murphy has a real dedication to the community and kids ... and when it's rebuilt it'll be ready to sell, I think," Kelly said.
Days before the roof collapse, one party had inquired about buying the facility, Kelly said.
Robb Rhodes, a member and coach in the Mon Valley Thunder Youth Hockey organization, said he hopes the arena can be rebuilt. The rink is home for the hockey league, which serves about 100 children, ages 6 to 16.
"It's like an extension of your home — your rink," said Rhodes, a member of the group's board of directors.
The group has begun a fundraising effort with T-shirts printed with "Save our Rink."
Since the roof collapsed, the Thunder's players have been using other arenas, including the Kirk S. Nevin Ice Arena in Greensburg.
"Any place we can find ice time, we've been renting ice," Rhodes said. "We've been playing at some really odd hours."
He said Murphy indicated to him that the Rostraver arena might be ready by September, in time for the Thunder players to begin practice. Several school districts use the facility for their hockey programs.
