Donora seeking OK for emergency demolition
Council wants to tear down a building on McKean Avenue near the parking garage.
Donora will seek permission for the emergency demolition of the building at 618 McKean Ave. that is threatening the borough’s parking garage at the corner of Sixth and McKean.
The condition of the structure has forced the borough to move some annual summer events around.
Solicitor Steve Toprani said he is gathering paperwork from code enforcement officer Joe Volpe to take to a Washington County Court of Common Pleas judge to seek approval for the emergency demolition of the building, which started crumbling in late April.
The building’s owner lives in New Jersey, and council has made myriad attempts to contact him and get him to take care of the demolition or otherwise take responsibility for the dilapidated structure.
This week, council President Cindy Brice said the borough has officially notified the owner by certified mail and has received nothing back from him. The borough’s engineers, Gannett-Fleming, officially deemed the building condemned and council has that report in hand.
Toprani said he will gather that paperwork starting today and could approach a judge for a court date by early next week.
It’s unclear how long it may take to get approval for the demolition, but as there are at least two community events next month that would typically happen near the parking garage lot, some decisions have to be made.
The fourth annual Craft and Vendor Show, organized by Kelly Balog, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 10, but instead of being at the corner of Sixth and McKean, it will be the first Donora event to take place at the new pavilion on Seventh Street. The event benefits Mon Valley Youth and Teen and has been very successful, Mayor Don Pavelko said.
Janet Bulko of the Donora Smog Commemorative Committee asked council this week if the demolition will happen soon enough for the Summer Bash Festival, set for 2 to 10 p.m. Aug. 24, to take place in the parking garage lot as usual.
Brice said since it’s six weeks from now, it’s possible the emergency demolition will be done by then, but it’s impossible to know until the judge signs off on it and a contractor gets to work.
Council hasn’t officially moved that event to another location, but said it may operate entirely on McKean Avenue. Bulko said there will be a band, a petting zoo, vendors, fireworks, games for kids and other entertainment. She hopes the parking lot will be available to at least give the band a space to set up, but council doesn’t know yet when it will be safe.
Councilman Tommy Thompson said he doesn’t believe it’s possible for the demolition to be done in time for the festival. Councilman Casey Perrotta said because the crumbling structure is so close to the building on the other side of it, some of the work may need to be done by hand, which would likely take longer.
The Smog Commemorative Committee is also planning its Donora Kennywood Day for Aug. 14. Councilwoman DeAnne Pavelko, who is on the committee, said there will be a bus available for those who need transportation.
Tickets and bus passes are on sale at Union Pharmacy and Marty’s Pizza. Pavelko said Ringgold High School’s marching band will perform in the Fall Fantasy Parade the evening of the borough’s Kennywood picnic.
Roderick Wilson Sr. announced at Thursday’s meeting that he and his son, Roderick Wilson Jr., donated another five Kennywood tickets to Pavelko to be distributed in addition to the 25 tickets the men donated earlier.
