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Demolition Starts on Partially Collapsed Building

SHENANDOAH — The sky is clear on this August day. You can see it straight through the broken windows of a dilapidated, old building in Shenandoah. It̵...

SHENANDOAH -- The sky is clear on this August day. You can see it straight through the broken windows of a dilapidated, old building in Shenandoah. It's a building that collapsed earlier this month.

"It's just sad because nobody is investing in their property," said Joe Salvadore, of Pattersonville.

The building on North White Street was deemed unsound after the roof and wall caved in back in early August, dropping bricks on nearby buildings. It's taken nearly four weeks for demolition work to start on what's left of the building. Rita Karlavage lives around the corner from it and said she's sick of living in fear.

"I just want it over with. I just want it over with so we could sleep," Karlavage said.

Crews started to take it down last week but couldn't reach some parts of the building. Now they say they have the equipment they need to get it done.

Neighbors said they're frustrated with the way Shenandoah officials have dealt with this issue, but there is a sense of relief that work on the building is now underway.

"I'm grateful they're starting it. The noise doesn't bother me. It's a good noise. Get it over with. People will be safe," said Karlavage.

Some say this is all part of a larger blight issue in Shenandoah.

"The old timers are passing away and the younger generation doesn't want to invest in anything because of look at the way the whole town looks," said Salvadore.

Workers hope to have the rest of the building torn down by the end of the month.

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