School District forgives back taxes on collapsing downtown building, paves way for demolition
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The former M&T Quart Store is in a state of collapse, seen here on May 16, 2023, forcing a change in the parade route for Heritage Day.
SHENANDOAH – One of the roadblocks keeping the borough from bringing down a downtown building before it falls into the street has now been cleared.
Wednesday night, the Shenandoah Valley School District Board of Education approved the forgiveness of back taxes on 200-202 South Main Street, the former M&T quart store, so that Shenandoah can purchase the property at tax sale for $1.
The building is owned by Glen Paterson and Ed Spielberger, both of Shenandoah, and both are deceased.
Abandoned for years, the building has been in a state of partial collapse for at least the past year, forcing a change in the Heritage Day parade route in May.
Borough Manager Tony Sajone said the borough plans to acquire the building from the tax claim bureau for $1 to bring it down.
Back taxes and liens follow a property through any tax sale except a repository sale, thus requiring the tax forgiveness. Sajone said the county also intends to forgive the property taxes owed to them, as well.
“We’ll put in a bid for it, and then we’ll put it up for demolition,” Sajone said. “We need to get moving as fast as possible on that.”
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