PITTSBURGH — Crews demolished the abandoned three-story home in Pittsburgh's Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood that was in danger of collapsing.
City of Pittsburgh officials were notified by gas company workers who noticed a problem with the structure late Tuesday afternoon.
People who live in a nearby home and two apartment complexes were evacuated as a precaution. Officials said those evacuated have not been told when they will be able to return.
Workers returned to the 1600 block of Forsyth Street Wednesday to decide on what course of action to take with the demolition process. The equipment for the process was also delivered Wednesday morning.
Building contractor Paul Loy said it wouldn’t be an easy process demolishing the house and then clearing the rubble.
“It’s not going to be easy. Guys are going to have to be methodical without doing any damage to the wires and the house next door,” Loy said.
Anthony Brooks lives nearby and said he’s happy the city is acting quickly to fix the potential problem.
“I think the only thing holding it up is the chimney that runs inside the wall,” Brooks said. “That’s the only thing that’s holding that side of the house up.”
Brooks added that the house isn’t the only one in the Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood that needs to come down.
“There are definitely a few other houses in the neighborhood like this,” Brooks said. “If the city is trying to say this is an isolated problem, it isn’t.”
Herb Zierenberg called the building historic and said he wanted to attend the demolition.
“This was a mom-and-pop shop like every corner,” Zierenberg said. “They used to sell lunch meet in there. They also had bread and milk because there was no supermarket at the time.”
Motorists and pedestrians are being advised to avoid the immediate area while crews are at the scene.