The train station, which houses J.G.'s Tarentum Station Grille but is owned by the borough, received more than $57,000 for landscaping and exterior improvements including power washing and sealing the retaining wall along E. Sixth Avenue and the buildings' brick facade. John Greco, who operates the restaurant on a lease, has already put $300,000 into building improvements and the borough has chipped another $10,000.

Superior Sports Cards, 211 Fifth Ave. at Lock Street, which is distinctive because of the turret rising above the building's corner entrance. Owner Andrew Jonczak will receive $50,000 for work on the facade, including cleaning and re-pointing the brick, roof repair, and replacing and expanding the storefront window. The building was constructed between 1894 and 1896, according to Jonczak, who will add $7,000 as a match to the county money.

Too Hot Tanning, 301 Fifth Ave. at Lock Street, across from Superior Sports Cards, which Rossey said was where the borough's first bank was located around the turn of the 20th century. Owner Jeff Parker also was awarded $50,000. Parker will contribute $15,000 for the facade work, which includes repainting the exterior brick trim and upper windows, second floor awnings and replacing ground floor windows along Lock Street.

"We have to sit down with them and they have to agree to certain terms," Rossey said of the building owners. "There are certain design guidelines they are going to have to follow and certain things they're going to have to do before they get this money."

Jonczak, who has owned the building for two years, is excited about the award. He said he has done extensive work inside the building but can't touch the facade because it's an historic landmark. He is particularly happy because it will fix a leak in the flat roof that is damaging bricks on the upper floors, and it preserve the building's historic flavor. "I've put about three thousand or four thousand (dollars) in that roof already," Jonczak said. "... I would never be able to do it by myself, according to their standards."

Rossey said there were 20 applications submitted by Tarentum building owners representing about $650,000 worth of work. He said while some of those owners may be disappointed, they should remain patient. Especially since the county set aside an additional $185,000 for future facade work. "They are not out, they are not done, they didn't lose," Rossey said. "They are still in the game. This was the first round and they are in the second round. I don't want them to get discouraged."

Tom Yerace can be reached at tyerace@tribweb.com or 724-226-4675.

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