Whitehall council last night heard encouraging comments from Tom Caste, the vice president of Caste Enterprises, regarding the future of the Caste Village Shopping Center.

"The empty store fronts will be gone and people will know that the center is not dying," Mr. Caste said.

During the past year, council had expressed numerous concerns about the continued viability of the center that has been an important part of the community since it opened in 1952. Rumors throughout the community had the center closing.

Mr. Caste attributed many of the present vacancies to plans to construct a large freestanding Rite Aid Pharmacy in the center. When that deal was abandoned in November, the center began the slow process of attracting new commercial leases.

A new dollar store will be opening before the end of this month. Before the end of the year, the Italian Oven will relocate to the center from its present location in Brentwood and will offer a breakfast menu seven days a week. A Little Caesar's Pizza franchise will open in the former Ward's Bakery space. Efforts are continuing to reopen the Gallery of Treats. Medical and dental practices also are being sought for the center. And the South Hills Cue and Cushion, which may lose its lease at its Route 51 site, is considering moving to a vacant space next to the center's Royal Lounge.

Council also authorized police Chief Don Dolfi to re-evaluate speed enforcement efforts on a section of Weyman Road between McRoberts Road and Hennig Drive in response to safety concerns raised by representative of the Steeplechase Townhouse Homeowners Association.

The chief said that state criteria prohibits the installation of traffic control devices like stop signs or signal lights at the offset intersection of Hennig Drive.

Council President Phil Lahr said efforts would be made to lower the present 35 mph speed limit to 25 mph to better control excessive speeding in the area.