Cherry Alley closed west of Morgan St.
Cherry Alley was closed at Morgan Street Wednesday because of the condition of the brick on the exterior wall of the former Waynesburg council chamber building.
A crack on the brick wall on the Cherry Alley side of the former Waynesburg council chamber building.
WAYNESBURG – Cherry Alley between Morgan and Church streets is closed to traffic because of potential hazard created by loose bricks on the former Waynesburg Borough council chamber building.
Part of the sidewalk on Morgan Street in front of the building also is closed for the same reason, said Bryan Cumlerledge, the borough’s code enforcement officer.
The borough became aware of the problem after it was asked if it wanted to purchase the building, which is owned by Waynesburg Hotel Lounge Inc. and is being sold to settle the estate of one of its owners.
K-2 Engineering, the borough’s engineer, inspected the building and cited a number of deficiencies. One of the deficiencies involved loose brick on the rear of the building on Cherry Alley and above a garage on Morgan Street, Cumberledge said.
“Now that we know there is a potential hazard, we have to do something to keep the public safe,” he said. The occupancy permit for the building also was revoked.
The alley will be closed until the property is made safe or until another engineer completes an inspection and determines the property does not present a hazard, he said. A spokesman for the estate could not be reached for comment.
The building, which is behind the current borough building, previously was owned by the borough and housed its council chambers and street department. The borough sold the building about 13 years ago.