Jul 22, 2016 2 min read

CHARLEROI – A roof collapsed on a building in the heart of Charleroi’s downtown historic district.

Washington County Redevelopment Authority this weekend will advertise for bids from contractors who are interested in demolishing what remains of 515 Fallowfield Ave., including its facade, said Nathan Voytek, the authority’s community development specialist assigned to Charleroi.

“It came straight down through. You can see the sky through the windows,” Charleroi Councilman Larry Celaschi said.

The building, owned by Kimberly Coleman of Pittsburgh, was vacant for nearly 20 years, said Voytek, adding its sale was likely completed via the internet.

He said the authority considered leaving the building’s facade in place to protect the streetscape because Charleroi is on the National Register of Historic Districts.

“The way it’s attached to the other buildings, it’s not feasible,” Voytek said.

Charleroi already reached an agreement with the state Historical and Museum Commission to demolish 25 buildings, and 515 Fallowfield is on that list, Voytek said. The borough also completed a preservation plan that was approved by council under that PHMC contract.

He said the authority’s engineer inspected the building after the roof collapsed last week and determined it’s not an immediate public safety risk.

“It was unsafe to go into before the collapse,” Voytek said.

The authority will pay for the demolition through its federal Community Development Block Grant program.