Charleroi targeting 11 'dilapidated' buildings

On a wall in Charleroi Council Chambers, the public safety committee has posted photos of 11 business district buildings it identified as dilapidated and a possible public safety concern.

Charleroi Mayor John Mollenauer said he and council have a passion to maintain the community, but are concerned about the gradual deterioration of some buildings.

“What it boils down to is accountability,” said Mollenauer during a Saturday special meeting of the council's public safety committee.

“If you own a property, you have to take action. You see these photos up here. Would you accept these conditions in your homes? I think not.”

The property owners and their allegedly substandard buildings were identified as:

• Walter Keller, 400 5th St./former IOOF Building.

• Charleroi Area School District, 138 McKean Ave./former Atlas Building.

• David Gaudio, 213 5th St./former Army Navy Store.

• Mon Valley Cultural Trust, 327, 335 and 337 McKean Aves.

• Pinnacle Advisors, 600 Fallowfield Ave.

• Kimberly Edward Coleman, 515 Fallowfield Ave./former Carson Law Office.

• Joe Villella, 531 Fallowfield Ave./Kay's Cleaning Building.

• Independent Slovak Benefit Club, 700 McKean Ave.

• Michael Sezawich, 517 Fallowfield Ave.

• Joe Zmijowski, 226 Washington Ave./formerly City Distributors.

• Charles Carpenter, 524 Fallowfield Ave./Celebrations building.

The committee addressed each of the buildings, with the property owners given a chance to respond.

“We're not here to pick on anyone,” said committee chairman Randy DPiazza. “These are problems that need to be resolved. We are trying to get our town back on track to what it used to be.”

Committee member Larry Celaschi said the building conditions are the result of decades of neglect, often by multiple owners.

Coyle Theater and Cultural Trust buildings

Celaschi noted that then-trust member and current borough manager Donn Henderson said in 2001 that it would take “a multi-million project” to renovate the former theater, which was closed in 1999.

He read from various newspaper reports in which current and past trust members, including current chairwoman Melanie Patterson, said the roof of the theater needs to be repaired and is the cause for water leakage and damage.

Celaschi said the trust has run electric extension cords throughout the theater for lighting, despite water issues.

He read a report from former trust consultant Barry Cassidy, who cited asbestos, mold and “biohazards” from pigeon droppings.

Trust member Nikki Sheppick distanced the board from Cassidy, saying he was not qualified to comment on the condition of the Coyle.

“We've complied with any notification we've been given,” Sheppick said.

Patterson said there is “nothing structurally wrong with the Coyle Theater.”

Patterson and Sheppick attacked newspapers, including The Valley Independent, for reporting on the borough's efforts to have what it perceives as problems with the building addressed.

At one point, former trust boards did have some significant grant money for the project. But those boards failed to match $175,000 in local share account grants funds by a Dec. 31, 2012, deadline and state grant funds totaling $250,000 by a spring 2013 deadline.

Patterson joined the trust board in late 2013 and Sheppick followed.

“We're pushing the reset button,” Patterson said, adding the trust believes a renovated Coyle Theater can be a cornerstone for a downtown cultural district to revive the business community.

Patterson said the community of Phoenixville, Pa. rebuilt its downtown community after renovating and reopening the Colonia Theatre. Although Cassidy was the consultant for that project, too, Patterson said that success was “no thanks to Barry Cassidy.”

Councilman Jerry Jericho said he is “not a big fan of the Coyle Theater anymore.”

“But, if you rebuild it, I will applaud you and say I was wrong,” Jericho said.

DiPiazza said he and residents of Charleroi are tired of waiting on the Coyle project, adding, “either (expletive deleted) or get off the pot.”

“Rome wasn't built in a day,” Patterson said. “Give us a chance.”

400 5th St./former IOOF building

Celaschi said the building at 400 Fifth St. was cited in 2001 after second-story window fell onto the street.

“Here we are 14 years later and that building has not gotten any healthier,” Celaschi said.

The structure, Celaschi said, has boarded up windows, sidewalk issues and broken glass with sharp edges.

Eli Polovina, vice president of Nokomis Inc., spoke on behalf of Keller, CEO of Nokomis.

He said the roof and the windows have been replaced. But, he said, vandals have broken the windows several times, so they were boarded up. Polovina said the company is considering plans for the building as it progresses with repairs.

Mollenauer said 2015 marks Charleroi's 125th anniversary as well as the 100th anniversary of Pyrex glass produced by World Kitchen and Corning Glass.

“We will have visitors in town,” Mollenauer said. “If they see blight in town, are they going to be interested in investing in town? This is going to be an important year for Charleroi.”

138 McKean Ave./Former Atlas Building

The building was purchased by the Charleroi Area School District in 2011, when the district forgave $20,000 in back taxes.

Celaschi said code enforcement officer Michele Mackey sent the school district a letter dated March 25, 2014, directing that the building be razed or repaired. On June 25, the district wrote to the borough, indicating it would raze the structure.

That demolition never occurred, he said.

School Director Adele Hopkins said the district at one point considered housing an alternative school there. She noted that the district spends $400,000 to send district students to alternative school programs. But state subsidies for public schools declined and the district has not been able to afford to do anything with the building, including razing it.

Hopkins said the district currently is working with a potential buyer for the structure.

Henderson asked that the school district move a bus stop across the street so the building is not a safety concern for school children.

When Celaschi suggested the building be roped off, Henderson said that's Mackey's call, not council's.

Henderson distributed to council copies of the borough's property maintenance code and Mackey's certification/trainings resume.

“It does not take special training to identify a boarded up window,” Mollenauer said.

213 5th St./Former Army Navy Store

Celaschi called the former Army/Navy building a “disgusting environment” that includes cockroaches as well as electrical issues and damaged windows.

There are 13 apartments in the structure. The owner had his renter license suspended until improvements are made, DiPiazza said.

Pinnacle Advisors, 600 Fallowfield Ave./515 Fallowfield Ave./former Carson Law Office

The owner of Pinanacle Advisors has been cited for failure to secure the building, Celaschi said, noting issues with a leaky roof and boarded up windows.

Henderson said the current owner lives in Miami. He said various owners of the building have lost judgments over citations involving the condition of the building over the years.

Likewise, Celaschi said, the owner of the former Carson Law Office has been cited several times and ultimately was given a demolition order. Copies of the order were delivered to the Coleman's home in Pittsburgh.

Independent Slovak Benefit Club, 700 McKean Ave.

Trustee Troy Harris said the Slovak Club has put $75,000 into renovating its building and is seeking a second façade improvement grant.

Defending boarded up windows, Harris said someone climbed the club's sign and broke in through a second-story window.

Mollenauer said he was pleased to see the Slovak Club trustees involved in improving the building.

“Your comments are very refreshing,” Mollenauer said.

Council President Paul Pivovarnik said council will direct Mackey to send letters to property owners, informing them of alternatives to boards that can be used to repair broken windows. They will also be given a timetable for repairs.

Councilman Jerry Jericho questioned why he did not receive a copy of the properties to be discussed prior to Saturday.

Pivovarnik noted the session was a public safety committee meeting, not a meeting of the whole council. All council members, though, were invited to attend.

“We've been discussing for many years the problems with buildings and they've been cited at least sometime,” Pivovarnik said.

Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at cbuckley@tribweb.com or 724-684-2642.