A longtime Oil City business has purchased a property just across the street from its current location and plans to expand its operations.
“I want to expand and, hopefully, I can in this economy,” said Chuck Snyder, president of Tri-City Tool Inc.
The company, which lists five employees, is a machine shop located on Charlton Street just off North Seneca Street.
The trucking company will stay as a tenant in the front of the building with Tri-City Tool renovating the back end to house the machine shop business.
The Oil City Zoning Hearing Board recently approved a variance to the city’s zoning ordinance to allow the operation of a light manufacturing machine shop in the commercial-1 zoned district.
“They got the variance to do that and they will be expanding their business in that building,” said Travis Hartman, a member of the city’s zoning and code enforcement office. “The variance lets them move forward immediately. It’s good news for them and the city.”
The variance request applied to 631, 621 and 619 North Seneca St. The parcel includes the Beemac building plus vacant lots.
The building was constructed as Bea’s Hearthstone restaurant and was later converted to Builder’s Supply hardware store in 1992. The store closed in 1995 and the space was later occupied by various tenants, including a water hauling company.
Snyder, a 1978 Oil City High School graduate, has 42 years as a machinist and journeyman toolmaker.
He previously worked at Shaw’s and was also an independent contractor.
Extensive renovations are underway at the new Tri-City Tool location.
“Hopefully, we’ll be moving in within three to four weeks,” said Snyder.
