Council, building owner come to terms
Uniontown City Council approved a plan Wednesday by the owner of the former Revco building at 9 W. Main St. to demolish parts of the structure and stabilize the portion facing South Street. The health board, which is comprised of council members, first discussed the matter at a meeting held before the council meeting Wednesday.
Solicitor Daniel Webster said the city received a letter dated April 29 from attorney Joseph Ferens, who represents building owner Carma Jean Lloyd, requesting that the board rescind its Oct. 24 order and allow her to tear down two of the three parts of the structure that form the building and “fortify” the third part.
The sections that will be razed are the main building, which faces Main Street, and the center portion, known as a “bridge building,” according to the letter read by Webster.
It goes on to say that Lloyd is waiting for city approval before she signs a demolition contract with Patterson Construction of Uniontown, which would apply for all necessary permits.
Webster recommended that the board grant Lloyd permission to proceed, but that it not rescind the previous order. He said the order does not have to be rescinded because it gives Lloyd the option of stabilizing or demolishing the building.
“The option was given to do both,” Webster said during the council meeting. “We had already given that option to her.”
Council reaffirmed the Oct. 24 order in January and was preparing to foot the bill to tear down the building, which it declared a nuisance and a hazard to public safety.
There was a motion on the council meeting agenda to accept a bid to demolish the entire building, but council voted to reject all of the bids in light of the agreement with Lloyd.
The board unanimously approved an order granting permission for the project to begin and requiring that it be completed within 60 days of receipt of the order.
The order requires that the code enforcement officer and city engineer inspect the work.
Mayor James Sileo and councilmen Bob Cerjanec and Joseph Giachetti were present for the board meeting.
Council ratified the order during its meeting. Councilman Gary Crozier, Cerjanec, Giachetti and Sileo attended. Councilman Blair Jones Sr. was absent.