Falling Bricks Close Renovo’s Ontario Avenue
RENOVO — The 500 block of Ontario Avenue has been temporarily closed to traffic while borough officials address the future of a structurally deficient building.
The area just east of Fifth St. was recently cordoned off because of falling bricks from a several story structure on the south side of Ontario Avenue. That building and a neighboring frame building are scheduled for demolition as part of Renovo’s River Access Project nearby. Recent wind and rain caused the brick building to heave and send parts of its roof into the upper floor.
Renovo has secured $950,000 in grant money to address dilapidated buildings, including those adjacent to the planned boat launch area. That project is not yet ready to go, so the borough is reported seeking assistance from the regional planning agency SEDA-COG to proceed with a demolition as soon as practical. No time frame has been announced as to when Ontario Avenue will be reopened.
