Monessen building to be demolished after collapse

MONESSEN, Pa. — The front of a Monessen building looks to be in decent shape, but the city has blocked off every side to keep people safe because it’s crumbling.

Drone video shot by Rick Arnold, a local videographer, shows the massive collapse, with bricks landing mainly in the alley behind it and even on the church next door.

The building used to house the Mon Valley Independent. The pharmacist across the street told 11 News that it’s been decades and decades since they were publishing there. Then it was a barbershop, and it was even used as the outside of a pretend bar in the Netflix movie shot in town.

Now it will be rubble.

“I think Monessen has hope as long as they invest in the right things,” said Gregory Smith, a student at Douglas Education Center.

Smith goes to school a block from this collapse. He said school brought him to the quaint, small town, and he’s hopeful for a future here.

“I think there is hope for Monessen because it’s a nice little town, it just doesn’t feel like there’s enough money being poured into it,” Smith said.

Building owner Guy Simpson is working with the city to get it demolished. He told us he met with the pastor of the church that is connected next door.

There is minor damage inside due to the collapse, which he plans to pay for, and he is confident the demolition will not damage the church further. But like the streets and alley, the church, too, remains closed until this can be safely torn down.

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