Mount Washington church demolition plans to include asbestos precautions
PITTSBURGH —
Demolition plans for the former Grandview United Presbyterian Church in Mount Washington are progressing after weeks of permit revisions, with a full asbestos survey planned before the process can begin.
The church, which has been vacant since its closure in 2022, was heavily damaged by a fire on July 7. Gregory Barton, a former congregant, shared his thoughts on the church’s history and the efforts to save it before its closure.
“We actually, you know, were trying to see if we could put together a plan to restore and revitalize the church before it closed,” Barton said.
The fire left the century-old building in ruins, and demolition is now necessary. Barton emphasized the importance of ensuring safety during the process.
“We just want to see that it’s done in a way that’s safe and isn’t going to expose the neighborhood to asbestos,” he said. “The mortar used in brick construction in the 1940s, which is when the brick facade was constructed, was often mixed with a bunch of asbestos.”
A source close to the project confirmed that a complete asbestos survey will be conducted before demolition begins. If asbestos is found, it will be safely abated.
Since the fire, the block of Grandview Avenue where the church is located has been closed to traffic. Sources indicated that the city’s permit revision process has been lengthy, with each revision taking several days of review by the city’s Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) before another was requested.
The city confirmed that Schaaf Excavating Contractors, the company tasked with the demolition, has agreed to conduct the work during the daytime after an initial request for nighttime demolition was denied due to safety and noise concerns. The contractor resubmitted their application for daytime demolition, which is now under review.
Barton expressed hope that the process will prioritize safety.
“It makes me hopeful that they’re really going to try to do things correctly and protect the neighborhood from any, you know, unnecessary asbestos exposure. That’s really our primary concern,” he said.
The Allegheny County Health Department stated that it has been in contact with the property owner to ensure compliance with asbestos and demolition regulations. The city added that it has ordered the building’s demolition and requires applicants to acknowledge their responsibility to comply with county asbestos requirements.
A demolition date has not yet been set.
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