Code enforcement provides update on collapsing properties
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - A collapsing property at 200-202 South Main Street in Shenandoah, seen on Dec. 18, 2023.
SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah’s code enforcement officer provided an update on several collapsing properties at Monday night’s council meeting.
Mark Pronio first spoke about 200-202 South Main, the former M&T Quart Store.
“I know last meeting, a vote was done to advertise [for demolition,]” Pronio said. “I don’t think we’ve advertised yet.”
He urged council to advertise the building for demolition before another weather event potentially causes a collapse.
“It is posted properly. We’ve done all the protocols as far as a dangerous property, blighted property, we’re good to go with whatever we wish to do with that property,” Pronio said. “We don’t need to own it at this point.”
The borough had been trying to acquire the property — which has been showing signs of imminent collapse for the better part of a year — and has run into snags at several turns.
Two of the three listed property owners — Edward Spielberger and Glen Paterson — are deceased. The third is Heather Dehanis, of 9019 Thomas York Blvd., San Antonio, Texas.
At a previous meeting, former solicitor Jim Amato said they, under the direction of the county, worked with them and the school district to have municipal liens compromised so that they could purchase it off the commissioner’s list.
“The county has indicated that, because the liens were compromised, we cannot now purchase it off the commissioner’s list,” Amato said.
Pronio also provided an update on 26 South Main Street, the former Gerri’s Flowers, which partially collapsed last month. The Sentinel was the only local news source to cover that incident.
He said he’s been in contact with the owner who has met with him.
In the time since, he said he “presented her with a significant fine. I wrote her a lengthy letter highlighting our ordinances, gave her several photographs, timelines, and she presented that she was under the care of a physician at that time and I felt she was evading her responsibilities so I re-engaged with her last week.”
He said he provided several demolition contractor suggestions to her and it appears demolition may be forthcoming at cost to the property owner.
The Schuylkill County Parcel Locator shows the property as being owned by Shenandoah Realty, LLC, of 119 W. 72nd Street, Manhattan, and has been owned by that company since 2017.
“The surrounding properties call me regularly. They’re very upset, the building is in disrepair,” Pronio said, suggesting that council intervene should the owner become evasive again.
On the east end, Pronio mentioned four properties in the 200 block of East Washington Street which are on leased ground from the Reading Anthracite Company, Pottsville.
“Three of those properties are very dilapidated,” Pronio said, noting he recently received an anonymous complaint on the properties. “I’d like to engage Reading Anthracite. They may be able to help us with their significant resources.”
Pronio also provided an update on the new gambling machine tax, saying he is conducting health inspections currently and will collect for the machines “shortly.” Council approved the annual tax last month at $250 per gambling machine, mainly targeted at the influx of “skill” machines.
“I’ve canvassed for these gambling machines. There’s a significant amount of machines, a lot of gambling machines in Shenandoah,” Pronio said. “There’s going to be in excess of 120. That’s just a rough guess and it may be more.”
“This will be a significant revenue source so I want to do this right,” Pronio said. He said he is waiting for stamps to indicate machines are paid.
He also said he will canvass and try to make sure machines aren’t hidden away to avoid the tax.
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