Pocono News Section

Bricks Fall From Carbondale Building

Bricks Fall From Carbondale Building - Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 2:50PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo
Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 @02:50pm EST
CARBONDALE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- A portion of sidewalk along North Main Street in Carbondale was closed to pedestrians after bricks fell from a building.

The bricks apparently fell from a window area two stories above the sidewalk.

City officials believe high winds may have caused the problem.

Last July, portions of the facade of a building on North Church Street fell onto the sidewalk below. In 2006, portions of the facade of the former Masonic Temple building fell onto Salem Avenue in the city.

Carbondale spent thousands of dollars to stabilize that structure and is still waiting for the owner to fulfil a court order to tear down the building.

Mayor Justin Taylor says the city is working on a new regulation, similar to one used in New York City, which required building owners to make periodic inspections of their structures.

New York requires that to be done every two years.

Mayor Taylor says Carbondale would probably require the checks every three or four years.

He'd like the first one to be done this year if the regulation passes a vote by City Council next month.