Part of West Main closed for demolition project
A portion of West Main Street in downtown Uniontown is expected to be closed for at least another week and as long as May 8 as crews demolish a building.
The vacant structure at 15 W. Main St. is being carefully dismantled by crews from Jaskolski Demolition Services of West Elizabeth, with portions of the facade being removed by hand, according to John Over of K2 Engineering, who issued the demolition permit for the City of Uniontown.
The building is owned by Commercial Center Associates of Bentleyville, with which businessman Joe Hardy is associated. Hardy’s spokesman, Jeff Nobers, said the building, once used as a grocery store and previously an Oddfellows Hall, had fallen into disrepair.
“Everyone recognized it is old and unsafe. For safety reasons, a lot of (the demolition) has to be done by hand so it doesn’t cause a collapse,” Nobers said.
Nobers said Hardy purchased the building recently with the intent to tear it down. Part of the sales agreement calls for the previous owner to keep the facade elements if they can be saved, also contributing to the stone-by-stone removal of the front of the building.
Over said the contractor must also prevent any debris from the demolition from falling onto a neighboring vacant lot.
“It’s definitely a good thing for the city that this is happening,” Over said. “It’s going to take some additional time because of the delicate nature of the work.”
West Main Street between Beeson and Pittsburgh Street will remain closed as long as necessary to ensure the safety of the public, Over said.
“Perhaps once they get the building lower, they may be able to open one lane to traffic, but public safety comes first,” Over said.
Under the terms of the demolition permit, all work must be done by May 8.
Over said that at present, work is only being done during the day, with the road barricaded from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Employees at businesses in the closed block said business seemed a little slower Monday and Tuesday, though several of the businesses have entrances on South Street as well.
Patti Davison, of Window Designs by Lydia, which has not been affected by the street closing, said she didn’t realize the age of the building, which goes back to 1900, until the demolition began. Davison said she noticed a Masonic symbol on the top of the building, and archways could be seen on the third floor as the demolition started, reflecting some of the past grandeur of the building.
“It’s a shame those things have to go, but I understand,” Davison said.