GREENSBURG, Pa. — A Greensburg dance studio owner has spent nearly $100,000 of her own money to repair extensive water damage caused by an adjacent vacant building.
Owner of Sandra Lynn’s School of Dance, Kim Stewart, says the flooding originated from the neighboring vacant Moose Lodge building, which featured uncovered rain spouts and a hole in its roof. Although the studio owner’s insurance agent instructed her to hire a restoration company, her insurance provider is refusing to cover the expense and the owners of the neighboring building have refused to share their insurance information.
Stewart noted that the studio serves students ranging from young children to adults. She recalled discovering the initial flooding while teaching a lesson.
“I was teaching a summer class, and I had my socks on, and I ran into the back to get treats or something for the kids and all of a sudden my socks were soaking wet,” Stewart said. The situation has disrupted operations for all of her students. “It’s devastating,” Stewart said. “I mean, we do teach young kids all the way to adults. The adults are like, ‘What how is this happening?’”
A plumber inspected the property and discovered uncovered rain spouts on the vacant Moose Lodge building located next door. Stewart paid to repair the rain spouts, but water continued to flood her studio. Further examination revealed a hole in the roof of the adjacent building that caused the flooding to persist.
Jeffrey Balzer, a licensed public adjuster representing Stewart, evaluated the damage and estimated the repair costs.
“Our estimate for total repairs here is over $800,000,” Balzer said. “She can fix that herself or she can buy insurance in case an expense like that comes up well an expense like that came up and here we are the insurance company is just not working with us.”
Efforts to resolve the issue with the neighboring property owners have also stalled after they refused to provide Stewart with their insurance information. Balzer said they plan to advocate more publicly regarding the situation.
“Our next step is you get loud, right?” Balzer said.
Stewart expressed hope that she can resolve the situation and reopen her business fully.
“I just want to get back in my corner, do my little dancing and be on my own again,” Stewart said.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW