Contractor expected to begin razing Brownsville's Plaza Theater By Christine Haines , Herald-Standard 01/25/2004 BROWNSVILLE, Pa. - A permit has been issued for the court-ordered razing of the former Plaza Theater on Brownsville Avenue, and demolition is expected to begin in the next few weeks. According to Mario Piccolomini of Waltersburg-based Piccolomini Contractors, hired to do the job, equipment could be moved to the site as early as Monday, although he said temperatures must be at or above freezing before the demolition can be done. Piccolomini said the recent cold weather causes excessive wear on the demolition equipment's diesel engines. Ed Myers of Fayette Engineering, the borough's engineer, prepared the specifications for the demolition. He said that state Department of Environmental Protection air quality specialist Fred Walters has recommended that Piccolomini use a wet-down procedure during the demolition to contain any asbestos that might be around the building's furnace. The 28,200-square-foot Plaza Theater, built in 1900, is owned by Brownsville Group Limited, one of several companies owned by Ernest Liggett that own properties in Brownsville. The property was the subject of a court hearing on building code violations last year. According to papers filed in Fayette County Court by Liggett's attorney, David Taylor, Liggett is selling his holdings to a Native American-owned firm, Ohwista Ko:Wah. A news release from Liggett stated that Ohwista Ko:Wah will use the Brownsville properties for a casino or electronic bingo parlor and tourist-related businesses. To date, the Fayette County recorder of deeds office has no record of any property transfers to Ohwista Ko:Wah. The Oct. 14, 2003, court order signed by Judge Steve Leskinen called for Liggett to apply for a demolition permit within four weeks. An application was submitted Nov. 26, arriving at Fayette Engineering by certified mail Nov. 27, Myers said. He said he needed to consult with the DEP before finalizing the specifications for the demolition, and Walters attempted to do the DEP inspection the last week in December but was unable to enter the building. "The borough last Wednesday (Jan. 21) issued the permit after the Liggetts submitted their permit fee," Myers said. He said Piccolomini will implode the theater, although no explosives will be used, due to the surrounding buildings. "You remove all the lateral bracing from the buildings that's attached to the external walls. The contractor will use a wrecking ball, and the ball will be impacted on the exterior of the walls," Myers said. "He must also protect the adjacent buildings, particularly the Frank Ricco garage. It is anticipated that the Brownsville Avenue traffic will be unaffected." Myers said Piccolomini already has been in contact with the borough police chief regarding any needed traffic control. The project also carries a $1 million insurance policy, in the event of damage to surrounding properties. Myers said Leskinen's order calls for the demolition to be completed within 90 days of a permit being issued. Piccolomini said it should take his crews four to six weeks to complete the job. "When you do any demolition or construction this time of year, you have to factor in another 30 days for inclement weather," Myers said. He said that although the Plaza Theater is within Brownsville's downtown historic district, it is not subject to regulations of the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, because the demolition is being done with private funds. Myers said the court order also called for the demolition of another building, the four-story, brick Crawford Building, across from the borough building. A demolition permit was to have been sought by Dec. 15, 2003, for that structure, Myers said. He said an application arrived Dec. 19 from Manor Investments, another company in which Liggett is a partner. Myers said the borough did not seek action on the missed deadlines, since permits have been sought. "It addressed not that building (the Crawford Building) but another building, a three-story, concrete building. There was a miscommunication," Myers said. The building submitted by Liggett for demolition is also located across the street from the borough building. Liggett, in a brief interview Friday, said he is in compliance with the court order. "I just know I sent in two applications, as per the court order. There was no confusion," Liggett said. Myers said Liggett's application for demolition of 204 High St., a residence across from the borough building, has been put on hold, and further clarification of the court order was sent to Liggett. Myers said he should be done with the demolition specifications for the Crawford Building in the next few days. Borough Council President Jack Lawver said the court records call for the demolition of a building believed to be 106 High St. "The way the transcript read, the address wasn't exactly correct, but the description was accurate," Lawver said. "It will be a harder building to tear down because you have to put a retaining wall in." Lawver said the ground behind the Crawford Building is pushing on the walls. The four-story brick building is actually 149 High St. The concrete or white stucco building for which Liggett applied for a demolition permit is directly across the street and is 204 High St. Lawver said the street numbering system in that area is very confusing. ©The Herald Standard 2004 Edward DUNLEVY

A suggestion, It is my understanding that you can not wet down asbestos until you get to the asbestos. Some one, independent, should be running air test in the neighborhood. The dust travels a long ways unseen. Make sure that they run blanks in several other parts of town.