Jeannette residents, officials hear report on plans to demolish former Fort Pitt Brewery

The impending demolition of the former Fort Pitt Brewery in West Jeannette will be bittersweet for Colleen Ott.

She’s wistful because of memories she has of hitting tennis balls off a wall at the complex decades ago with her siblings. But she’s also happy because she and her husband, Chris, live across the street from the decrepit red brick structures.

“I won’t have to wake up and look at the buildings anymore,” she said.

“I think it’s a great idea, what they’re doing with the property,” Chris Ott agreed.

They were both relieved to learn Thursday during a public meeting that there’s no asbestos expected to escape into the air during the demolition, and 3 million gallons of water in the basement is groundwater.

The meeting was held by the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank to provide information about the project to residents and city officials.

If all goes well, demolition could start in June or July and be wrapped up by December, said Executive Director Brian Lawrence.

“We recognize that something like this … is something that affects your community greatly,” he said.

Heavy machinery will be used to rip apart the buildings, which means there will be dust, truck traffic, noise and vibrations. The work will take place 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except for federal holidays.

Material demolished onsite that can be turned into clean fill will be used to fill the basement. The rest will be hauled away, Lawrence said.

The land bank acquired the complex in a judicial sale in August 2022. The buildings have been a headache for city officials for years.

They are littered with debris, and a large section of a rear wall has collapsed. Parts of several roofs are missing, including on one building that’s separated from homes only by an alley. On top of that, vandals and other troublemakers have broken in. A suspicious fire broke out in 2017.

The demolition and preparation for redevelopment could cost $1 million, officials have said. It is being paid through a $10.4 million pot of federal American Rescue Plan funding set aside by Westmoreland County for blight remediation in seven communities, including Jeannette.

“Ultimately, our long-term goal is to reuse the site in a meaningful way,” Lawrence said.

Thirty contractors attended a mandatory pre-bid meeting last week. Bids are due May 24.

Once more details are available from contractors, county officials plan to have additional meetings for stakeholders to answer more questions, he said.

The winning bidder will be required to have bait-and-capture boxes for any animals living in the buildings. A couple residents at the meeting reported seeing rats and cats going in and out.

A second environmental assessment will be conducted after the demolition and help guide potential reuse of the property.

“It lends itself to light manufacturing,” Lawrence said.

A couple residents had a different suggestion.

“That area would be a good place for a grocery store,” said Pete Davis, who added that he understood the second assessment would dictate the ultimate redevelopment.

Frank Trigona’s Rufus Corp. acquired the brewery in 2002. The Jeannette businessman died in 2015, leaving behind thousands in delinquent taxes.

The site previously was home to Victor Brewing Co., which organized in 1907. Fort Pitt Brewing bought the property in 1941, according to news accounts.

In the mid-1950s, Papercraft Corp. expanded its gift wrap manufacturing operations there before the plant went dormant in the mid-1970s. It was later purchased by Laurel Mould, which produced plastic food containers.

The property was sold at sheriff’s sale and thereafter purchased by Rufus Corp.