MAHANOY CITY — The borough skyline will change in the near future.
The borough has entered into an agreement with George D. Mamarella, the owner of the former Kaier Brewery, to transfer the dilapidated building to the borough for $1. Afterward, it will be demolished.
The largest brewery in the county in its heyday, it has stood empty for decades. Many windows in the five-story brick structure are broken, trees grow inside and part of the roof is gone with the sky visible through some of the fifth-floor windows.
The demolition and improvement of the area is part of an initiative that had been going on for years in the downtown business district, according to borough Manager Daniel L. Lynch.
“Basically, we were doing a few different programs, and the whole thing lumped together is what we’re calling Streetscape Phase IV,” Lynch said.
The borough is currently conducting Phase III of the program, its full name being Central Business District Streetscape Revitalization Program. Phase III is the expansion of the Streetscape program from the Phase I and II areas (Main and Centre Streets), which was completed in 2008. Phase III adds four additional blocks, from First to Third streets on East Centre Street and from Locust to Catawissa streets on West Centre Street.
The current phase will install new sidewalks, signage, historic lighting, benches and trees, adding pedestrian safety and improving aesthetics to the central business district. The cost is more than $1 million, paid mostly through funds obtained through the state Department of Transportation’s Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative.
At its June 10 meeting, the borough council adopted a resolution that will allow the borough to apply for grant funds from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. During that meeting, borough solicitor Michael A. O’Pake explained that the resolution authorizes the filing of a proposal for funds with the DCED for Phase IV, O’Pake said. The maximum amount the borough is seeking is $500,000.
“What we’re doing is going after money through the Keystone Communities Program for the demolition of the brewery itself and repair the sidewalks in that immediate area,” Lynch said. “We have talked to the property owner, and we have a sales agreement in place to transfer the property for a dollar. Before we could put in the funding application, we have to own the property. Once we get the money from the state, we can demo that property.”
Lynch said estimates are that demolition of the brewery range from $170,000 to $200,000.
“It’s all steel and brick,and it’s hollow,” he said. “You can often use the brick as fill. It might be cheaper than some people might think, though it’s still not cheap by any stretch. The owner will have to remove the cars on the property.”
The brewery operation was founded by Charles D. Kaier. The brewery opened in 1880 by the Charles D. Kaier Co. In 1892, the building was expanded to install two industrial refrigeration compressors. According to Brewers Journal, sales in 1951 for Kaier’s was 183,500 barrels, second in the Pennsylvania coal region breweries only to Stegmaier at 500,000 barrels.
Lynch said once the property is cleared, the area will become a recreation area for borough children and those from neighboring Child Development Inc.
“When that property is down, our plan is to redevelop it into a playground at that location, and that’s where the grant application we put in through the CFA’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program,” Lynch said. CFA is Commonwealth Financing Authority.
Lynch said the playground/park project will be in two phases.
“The area will be fenced in because there is enough traffic in the area to warrant that,” he explained. “There will be a pavilion, picnic tables, a large play structure. In another phase, there is enough room for another structure on it. The total project cost for the first phase with the playground is about $125,000 to $130,000. The second phase could be about $70,000 to $80,000 as a rough estimate.”
Lynch said another grant application was sent through PennDOT’s “Automated Red Light Enforcement” program.
“We would put in a crosswalk and signage in that area for Child Development to have access to the park,” Lynch said. “Those are the three things that we’ve done as part of this all-encompassing North Main Street plan.”
The borough is also looking for more Streetscape development in that area in the future.
“Down the line we’re looking at more Streetscape development up on North Main Street,” Lynch said. “We will eventually have complete ownership of the those lots where the fire was, so we’re looking at that location. We’re looking to really redevelop that part of town.”