Sam's Real Estate Business Trust, a division of Wal-Mart, has applied for a demolition permit for the former Sam's Club on McKnight Road in Ross Township.
The 6.2 acres site was purchased for $9.85 million in 2002, and is valued at $4.8 million, according to the county's real estate web site.
The building, vacant since a new Sam's Club opened on Mount Nebo Pointe, still generates huge tax revenue. Allegheny county, alone, collected $22,258 in county property taxes in 2013.
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Ross Township Manager Douglas Sample said he's unaware of any plans to build on the site, at least right now.
"I believe they simply want to tear the building down, to reduce the value of the property and thus lower their tax liability," Sample sald.
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It's not clear when the demolition would begin, as of late last week, the property was still being protected by a security guard.
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