SHAMOKIN - A contractor says he'll begin tearing down three burned out properties in the 600 block of East Sunbury Street next week.
Rob Knoeppel, of Knoeppel Coal Deliveries and Home Renovations, Shamokin, said Friday he is under contract with the homeowner of 608 E. Sunbury St., Barbara Frazier, of Coal Township, to demolish her building and remove the resulting debris.
He agreed to take down adjoining properties at 606-604 E. Sunbury St., but is not responsible to clear those sites. Rick Bozza, city code officer, said Jacob Engle is under contract with the owner of those two properties, Bettina Fenessey, of Paxinos, to haul away that debris.
Once work at the site begins, Bozza said, "We're going to make sure this project doesn't stop."
The three properties and a fourth, 600 E. Sunbury St., owned by Suzan Martz, of Paxinos, were destroyed by arson in January. Emergency measures were taken in May to pull down the tops of 604-608 E. Sunbury St. after it began to shift, posing a danger to pedestrians and motorists.
Demolition of Martz' property was already under way at the time and has since been demolished and cleared of debris.
A PennDOT review of the remaining three properties concludes that it is the "responsibility of the property owner to clear all debris from the roadway and sidewalk," according to a July 19 letter sent by the department to Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi.
PennDOT acknowledged the demolition contracts that are in place.
Clausi and fellow commissioner Stephen Bridy turned to PennDOT earlier in July after residents approached them and sought their involvement to have the sidewalk and road cleared.
Some debris remains piled in front of 604-606 E. Sunbury St.
Steve Bartos, city clerk, said Wednesday that PennDOT would be putting up a temporary crosswalk near the site.
James L. Neidlinger Jr., 22, of Shamokin, is charged with setting the fires that destroyed the four homes. He is being held at SCI-Camp Hill. An examination was ordered in July to determine if he is competent to stand trial or issue a plea.