Fate of former Aaron’s building still up in air
CONNELLSVILLE – Yellow tape stretched across the front entranceway of the former Aaron’s Furniture Store advises pedestrians to be cautious when using the North Pittsburgh Street sidewalk. City health and code officer Tom Currey said that the street department sawhorses and tape were erected last week after a person reported hearing already-broken glass rattling in a second story window.
“We don’t want anyone getting hurt,” said Currey, adding that the window was removed Monday.
While many officials and city residents hoped the multi-story building was salvageable, it has again been deemed a hazard and the current owner, Mohamed Hassanain, of New Jersey ordered to tear it down.
Currey said that following the Sept. 28 health board meeting, Hassanain was advised to have it demolished or face fines.
However, Hassanain is in prison facing an Oct. 26 sentencing hearing after being convicted on racketeering and related charges.
The six-story brick building has had multiple owners over the past several years.
The store opened on March 16, 1906. A fire two months later destroyed the upper three floors, but the business owner later rebuilt it.
In 1978, Richard Dicenzo purchased the property at an auction and it has remained vacant since that time.
By 2005, fines totaling nearly $8,000 had been levied against him by the then-health officer because of his failure to maintain the site.
A Fayette County judge ruled in Dicenzo’s favor, stating that the health officer had failed to properly notify Dicenzo that he was to demolish the building and that he was not advised of his appeal rights to the citation.
In the interim, Dunbar businessman Doug Corteal purchased the property for $1 with the intention of demolishing the building and constructing an office building on the property.
In 2006, Corteal listed the property on an eBay auction block, stating that it was not feasible to raze the building because of its location.
The property changed hands again in August 2006 with Hassanain purchasing the site for $20,000.
According to city Mayor Judy Reed, Hassanain visited Connellsville shortly after the purchase and advised her and other officials of his intention to rehabilitate the building and fill it with commercial businesses and apartments.
Soon after, workers began to repair the roof. Before its completion, Hassanain was indicted by the New Jersey grand jury. No work has been done since.
Currey, meanwhile, said that he has yet to be contacted by Hassanain or those that now oversee the property as to what they plan to do to address the structural problems, including loose bricks, holes in the roof and missing windows.
The city’s recourse, should he not respond, said Currey, would be for citations to be written.
“That brings in the court process,” he said. “It doesn’t sound like much, but judges have authority across state lines which the health board does not have.”
A second option is for the city to demolish the property at its own expense. However, it is estimated that it could cost upwards of $100,000 to raze the structure.
Hassanain has until the end of October to respond to the city health board.