Walmart in Sight? Contractor to Raze Moon Shopping Center Storefront

Motorists may have spotted it—a few Dumpsters and five or six trucks parked outside of the empty Sherwin-Williams building on Beaver Grade Road. 

The vacant storefront is the last remaining building in the former West Hills Shopping Center—the property was purchased by the Arkansas-based Walmart Inc. in 2007.

The big-box retailer plans to build a 151,000 square-foot building on the land.  And those waiting trucks might mean the company is taking another step toward construction of the store.

Moon Township Planning Director Adam McGurk said the company is likely preparing to demolish the building.

McGurk said Walmart has not yet applied for a demolition permit through the township. 

“They’ve hired a contractor to demolish the remaining building,” McGurk said. “They have not yet applied a demolition permit, but it’s not a very extensive process to receive one.”

McGurk said he has met with an architect for the project to discuss the township’s building permit process.

But there is one catch—Walmart must first receive a highway occupancy permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation before any further work can begin. 

Walmart, which began the PennDOT permit process more than year ago, cannot obtain township building permits until it finalizes its highway occupancy permit through PennDOT. 

In May, PennDOT spokesman James Struzzi said the company was working alongside PennDOT engineers. 

Walmart could not be reached for comment. No ground-breaking date is available.

Will you shop at a Moon Township Walmart? What impact might it have on the community? Tell us in the comments.