Cars damaged after South Side building collapses
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The heavy winds Saturday caused a vacant house to collapse in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood, falling on top of cars and a part of a home.
Thankfully, no one was hurt, but those living in the neighborhood told KDKA they weren't shocked by what happened.
Vicki Weisen was in her bedroom when she heard a loud bang.
"I thought it was; my house was struck by lightning because I heard a boom," Weisen said.
She quickly learned that sound was the house collapsing next door.
"I was scared. I was very scared. My heart was pounding," Weisen said.
It was shortly after 1 p.m. when fire and police responded to South 16th by Sarah. Duquesne Light soon followed to secure power and gas lines.
"I'm still shaking inside. I'm still shaking," Weisen said.
Weisen noticed that debris crashed on her car and two others and caused some minor damage to her ceiling and walls.
She also found parts of the structure scattered along her front porch.
"That's all from them. All this mess. That's insulation all over here," Weisen said. "It's all insulation. God knows how old it is."
Michele Margittai is the South Side Community Council Block Watch chair for the area.
"With the live wire, I mean, this could have turned into a much more serious situation," Margittai said.
Margittai, Weisen, and their neighbors said the building has remained vacant for at least five years, and they have been concerned for some time.
"It's been empty for how long, and you know, I'm afraid of a fire; I have two animals in my house," Weisen said.
They only recognized this past year that crews started working on the structure.
"What was very interesting about it is that they had taken the entire front of the house off, and it did not look like it was stabilized," Margittai said.
Online county and city records show the owner is Kajon Materials, and the building has a D+ grade. They also reveal a company called Riva Ridge Real Estate had a permit approved in July 2022 for an addition or alteration to the structure.
Hours after first responders and inspectors left the scene, KDKA caught contractors wearing clothes with the word Riva on them starting work on the wreckage.
An inspector came back out, and city officials told KDKA they're likely to issue citations for illegal demolition work.
As for Weisen, she's frustrated and feels this could have been prevented.
"It's just like not right. It's not right. Buildings like this should be torn down and not, like, remodeled into a new house," Weisen said.
Crews evacuated Weisen and a couple living above her and are helping them find places to stay.
KDKA reached out to the two companies involved with the building that collapsed. Kajon Materials released this statement on Monday.
"As the owners of the structure that collapsed at 183 S. 16th, we apologize for this very unfortunate event," they said. "We are grateful that no one was physically injured during this accident. We have been working with our insurance company and the city to ensure that everything is handled properly. We will make sure that all debris is cleaned up and any damage caused to the surrounding properties will be made whole."
City officials said crews plan to demolish the structure on Monday.
