News from Pittsburgh newspaper
Former Grapeville glass factory set to be razed
By Chris Foreman
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Demolition of the former Westmoreland Glass Co. complex in Grapeville could begin early next year.
North Huntingdon-based Beacon Redevelopment Industrial Corp. closed on the Hempfield site this fall, paying $42,000 for the abandoned property, Westmoreland County deed records show.
Since 1984, when the historic milk glass factory closed, the building has been a frequent target of arsonists and vandals.
In September, Beacon announced it awarded the salvage rights to the bricks and steel on the property to a Nevada company, Renaissance Renovations and Development, for $6.35 million.
"We believe in the beginning of the year, we'll start with the asbestos abatement and then the demolition," said Adam Marek, Beacon's president and chief operating officer.
"If the weather's good, we can start at the beginning of the year."
Westmoreland Warehouse & Industrial Building Inc. bought the 138,000-square-foot complex for $75,000 in 1986. Another corporation, Diversified Land Management Group., then took over the deed until the sale to Beacon.
Hempfield officials have wanted the building to come down for years.
At one point in the late 1990s, township supervisors said they had budgeted some money to cover the demolition, but the estimated cost has been greater than the township's budget for tearing down condemned structures.
Solicitor Les Mlakar said the township initiated civil actions against the former property owner, but is "taking a wait-and-see attitude" with Beacon.
"It appears they're going to bring it up to snuff," he said.
Supervisor Chairman John Silvis said he's happy with any progress with the property, "but they're not going too fast."
"We want it cleaned up, and it's getting to the point where we'll have to put a time limit on it," he said. "It's put up or shut up."
Chris Foreman can be reached at cforeman@tribweb.com or 724-836-6646.
