Kenny Ross Opens New University Boulevard Dealership

The Moon Township car dealership opens a new facility.

General Manager David Baselj said it's been quite the adjustment—moving his staff of 60 from one of the oldest car dealership facilities in the Pittsburgh region to a brand new one up the road.  "It's just been fantastic," Baselj said. "We went from one of the oldest (dealership buildings) to the largest, newest."  Kenny Ross Toyota earlier this month opened the doors of its newly constructed, 48,000 square foot building across from Sheetz on University Boulevard.  The facility, which sits on 10 acres of land just off the Interstate 376 Business Route, was constructed to become the only LEED-certified car dealership in Western Pennsylvania.  The U.S. Green Building Council sets environmental criteria for buildings to meet the certification…

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Vision for Vacancy

Visions for Vacancy: Former Trivia Pub

Update: What should move into this building?

Update: Township Planning Director Adam McGurk said that Autozone has submitted a revised application to develop on the property.  Vacant buildings and unused storefronts are eyesores, but an empty storefront can also be an opportunity. You don't need to be a commercial developer or city planner—or have money to invest in a business project—to have the next great idea. The former Trivia Pub and Beer Store on University Boulevard were once Moon Township staples—the watering hole across from Robert Morris University's campus served as a bar for more than 60 years.  The property was tapped to become an Autozone location. In January, Akron, OH company LRC AZ Investors purchased the land and accompanying building for $619,750. Since that sale, …

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Planning Commission Supports Zoning Change for RMU Hotel

The university purchased the hotel in 2011 and uses it for student housing.

The Moon Planning Commission has recommened that the township amend a zoning ordinance to allow student housing at the Pittsburgh Airport Holiday Inn on University Boulevard, where Robert Morris University is lodging students. Planning commissioners have expressed support for the measure but have not taken action on the request.  The Moon-based university purchased the 10-story hotel for $10 million in 2011 and uses the first three floors of the building as student housing. The rest of the facility, including overnight rooms and banquet spaces, is operated under the Holiday Inn brand.  The university is requesting that the township change its zoning ordinance to allow for student housing on University Boulevard, which would enable RMU to …

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Contract Awarded for Moon Military Commissary

An October 2013 opening is planned for the regional trading post and grocery store.

The Department of Defense announced Thursday that a $12 million contract has been awarded to a Mississippi construction firm for the long-planned Moon Township military commissary.  Carothers Construction Inc. of Oxford, MS will construct the 43,000 square-foot commissary at the corner of the Interstate 376 business route and University Boulevard near the 99th Regional Readiness Command Army Reserve Unit. When completed, it will replace the existing commissary in Oakdale.  The commissary will act as a grocery store and trading post exclusively for more than 160,000 military personnel and family members in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.  The post is expected to be completed by October 2013. Ten firms bid on the project, according to …

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Arrests Made for DUI, Public Drunkenness

Moon Police blotter for Tuesday, June 19.

Moon Police made the following recent arrests and responded to the following recent incidents. Each item is a reflection of police records and does not indicate guilt or a conviction. 

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Commencement Approaches for Moon, Montour Seniors

Upcoming commencement ceremonies are scheduled for the school districts.

Seniors in Montour High School's class of 2012 will graduate Friday at Robert Morris University Moon.  The school district will hold its ceremony at 7 p.m. in the university's Sewall Center arena. Parking will be available on campus.  The last day of classes for students in the district is Thursday. Moon Area High School seniors will graduate at 7:30 p.m. June 15 in the district's high school gymnasium.  Members of Moon's class of 2012 must attend rehearsal at 9 a.m. June 11 and 8 a.m. June 15 in the gymnasium.  Parking for the ceremony will be available at the county Port Authority Park-n-Ride lot on University Boulevard, behind Sheetz. Shuttle buses will transport guests from the parking lot to the high school from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. that…

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Moon Police Charge Motorists with DUI After Checkpoint

Moon Police blotter for Wednesday, May 31.

Moon Police made the following recent arrests and responded to the following incidents in the township. Each item is a reflection of police records and does not indicate guilt or a conviction. 

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Officials Report Renewed Interest in Moon Township Commercial Development

A bolstered economy and planned military commissary have sparked developers' interest in Moon Township.

An upturn in the economy and the planned Walmart construction on University Boulevard has renewed developers' interest in Moon Township, officials said. "Definitely looking back at the applications for 2011, it was a slow year for development plans," said Moon Planning Director Adam McGurk. "It's hard to say what it is, but it does say that the economy is picking up in terms of commercial development."  McGurk said more than 20 projects are now in the construction phase in the township.  Developers this year have unveiled plans for a new, 130,000-square foot Hilton hotel, slated to be constructed off Fed Ex Drive. The project was set to break ground in 2008, but developers backed out as the economy sank into a recession that year. The 117-…

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Jenna Staul

10:53 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Hi Brian, Just to clarify: Walmart has not made public a timeline or ground-breaking date for the project, nor have they commented on the planned Moon store since 2011. Walmart purchased the property in 2007 and about a year ago, the township settled a lawsuit with the company, which enabled it to move forward with the project: http://moon.patch.com/articles/moon-walmart-construction-back-on-…   more ›

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Moon-Area Emergency Services on Display at Valley Ambulance

Local police, firefighters and EMTs met with members of the public today at Valley Ambulance's University Boulevard headquarters.

Emergency crews from Moon, Crescent and Sewickley stopped by Valley Ambulance's University Boulevard headquarters today in honor of National Emergency Medical Services Week.  First-responders were on hand to meet with the public, provide tours of vehicles or demonstrations of their work.  Click through the gallery above to view photos from the event. 

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Valley Ambulance, Area Emergency Personnel Host Safety Day

The ambulance authority will open its doors to the public on Saturday.

The public can tour Valley Ambulance Authority's University Boulevard facility this weekend and learn more about area public safety services.  The event, held in honor of National Emergency Medical Services Week, will include emergency service departments from Moon, Crescent, Sewickley and Robinson.  Residents can meet local EMTs and paramedics from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the authority's 3500 University Boulevard facility. The event is free to attend.  Click the media in this article to view a full listing of events.  Events scheduled for the day include:  Throughout the day:   

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