Crews begin demolition efforts on the backside of the property at 24 N. Main St., which was heavily damaged by fire in June 2017.
JAMESTOWN – An abandoned building in downtown Jamestown that was the location of a fire two years ago is finally being demolished.
On Wednesday Jamestown Development Director ordered the emergency demolition of the building at 24 North Main Street, due to extensive fire damage causing an imminent public safety threat.
The building is the structure previously housing the Arcade Shoe Store located between the railroad tracks and the multi-story Arcade Building.
According to a statement sent out from the mayor’s office, HH Rauh will perform the emergency demolition process. Work stated Wednesday in the rear of the building and will continue toward North Main Street.
DeJoy said The project will cause temporary closures of the east sidewalk and street on North Main Street between First Street and the railroad viaduct.
The City of Jamestown asks for the public’s patience and cooperation through this demolition process.
In June 2017 a fire broke out in the abandoned building, causing extensive damage to 24 N. Main St. Last year, city officials received a $100,000 state grant to facilitate the demolition.
The 2017 fire caused minimum damage to the adjacent Arcade building, mostly to the windows that had been boarded up prior to the fire, but where then broke open by firefighters in order to vent the multi-story structure. The Arcade building has also been abandoned for over 20 years.
A recent study found that any effort to renovate and restore that building would cost over $16 million. It would also cost $1.6 million to demolition the building and $1.4 million to stabilize it.
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