Jeannette to acquire Clay Avenue properties

Jeannette will take control of two fire-damaged properties in the heart of the city's downtown area.

Council on Wednesday authorized the acquisition of a lot at the intersection of Clay Avenue and Fifth Street that was the site of a massive April fire which resulted in the collapse of a vacant three-story building. The parcel, owned by late businessman Frank Trigona under his Rufus Corp., is in the county's repository.

The adjoining building, which was damaged by the fire, will be donated to the city by property owners Peggy and Michael O'Bradovich, in addition to $7,000 in insurance proceeds, solicitor Scott Avolio said.

“The city's been in cooperation with the property owners to make the best of that situation,” Avolio said.

The moves will give the city control over a portion of the 500 block of Clay Avenue, which officials said could be transformed into green space.

“There's a possibility that we may not be able to rebuild on the property,” manager Michael Nestico said.

The first step will be to assess the condition of the building still standing, according to Nestico.

City taxpayers have paid more than $60,000 for the emergency demolition of the Rufus Corp. property after the April 23 fire and collapse left it unsafe. It has been left with bricks strewn in the basement pit since the fire. The three-story building once housed a duck pin bowling alley and dollar store. Rufus Corp. owes about $50,000 in delinquent taxes.

To acquire it, the city will pay administrative costs — typically a few thousand dollars — incurred by the county tax claim bureau associated with the property being placed into the repository, Nestico said.

“Once we acquire the title, then we're going to be able to take steps to remediate,” he said.

The O'Bradoviches' three-story building — which housed space for their motorcycle club and tenants Guys and Dolls Hair Parlor and a Jackson Hewitt tax preparation agency — sustained fire, smoke, water and structural damage and was deemed uninhabitable in the aftermath by the city's code officer. Peggy O'Bradovich said the cost to repair wasn't worth it.

“It's a sad thing,” she said. “I just feel bad that other people had to suffer from it, too.”

Fire investigators were not able to determine the cause because of the extent of the damage.

“Because of that, now we have to watch a beautiful building be destroyed,” she said.

It will be an emotional weekend for the couple as they are set to move out their club's belongings from the building that housed celebrations, baby showers and funeral wakes. Both tenants have found new locations, she said.

“It's just been a horrible experience,” she said. “It can't be fixed.”

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com.