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Developer sees Planet Fitness ready to pump iron by mid-March

5 min read
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A Planet Fitness gym that was delayed by a permitting issue at Park Place at the Meadow Lands should be in orbit by this time next month.

”It should be open by St. Paddy’s Day,” said David Biafora, principal of Metro Property Management, the Morgantown, W.Va., company that is developing the mixed-use site that straddles North and South Strabane townships along Route 19 north.

The construction of the gym, as well as an adjacent apartment project, were brought to a halt in February 2016 by the state Department of Environmental Protection, which said the development company was working without permits or where work was not permitted.

While construction of the fitness center continued last summer outside of the restricted area, which enabled completion of the exterior of the building, the project went full steam ahead in November, when permits were issued.

The lack of the permits also brought the adjacent apartment and townhouse project – a total of 206 units – to a halt, something that Metro has been able to ramp up since getting the green light from DEP.

Biafora noted last week that the apartments already have 55 tenants, with 66 other units nearly completed, with Metro doing pre-leasing arrangements.

When the apartment construction wraps up, Biafora said his company will start construction on the townhouses.

Also coming as supporting retail to the Planet Fitness will be a vitamin store and a physical therapy business, while in the retail center below, Metro is working on bringing a massage therapy business and a hearing aid store.

Timothy DeLisle has joined Lawrence-based Black Box Corp. as vice president of sales for its North American Commercial Services business unit.

DeLisle, who brings more than 25 years of experience from the technology industry and extensive knowledge of leading sales organizations within the sector, was previously vice president of enterprise sales and strategic alliances at EarthLink. He has also held leadership roles with EMC Corp., Sungard, Comdisco and Unisys Corp.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Eastern Illinois University and an MBA from DePaul University.

Black Box, a leading digital solutions provider, helps customers build, manage, optimize, and secure their information technology infrastructure.

Steptoe & Johnson has announced the addition of three attorneys at its Southpointe office to strengthen its Western Pennsylvania litigation practice, particularly in the areas of products liability and toxic torts.

Edward A. Miller’s experience spans more than 20 years representing clients in asbestos litigation and chemical exposure claims; products liability claims involving differing products including elevators, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; and the defense of a wide variety of personal injury and property damage claims. Throughout his career, Miller has represented clients in jury and non-jury trials in federal and state courts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

He received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his bachelor’s degree from Clarion University. He joins the firm as a member.

Melissa Devich Cochran’s practice focuses on litigation in the areas of products liability and asbestos. Her clients have included equipment manufacturers, contractors, supply companies, and others. She also has experience in property and casualty matters, representing clients in civil trials and arbitration. Devich Cochran earned her law degree from Duquesne University and her bachelor’s degree from Saint Vincent College. She joins the firm as a member.

Autumn L. Pividori focuses her practice in asbestos, toxic tort and products liability matters. She also has experience handling Medicare compliance issues resulting from workers’ compensation and general liability settlements. She earned her law degree from Duquesne University and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She joins the firm as an associate.

Rachael Beam has joined Pennsylvania American Water’s Western Pennsylvania team as a project manager in the engineering department.

She will be based in PAWC’s McMurray office and will cover projects in Pittsburgh and southwestern districts.

Beam has more than 19 years of experience in engineering, including design and construction management related to water and wastewater facilities. She received a B.S. degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in engineering from Cornell University, and is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania.

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