Schenectady building deemed hazardous, will be torn down

A long-vacant three-story building at the corner of Schenectady and Strong streets will be demolished Thursday morning, prompting city officials to close a portion of the road.

The building at 543 Schenectady St., which is owned by the Schenectady Urban Renewal Agency, has been vacant and deteriorating for at least the last three years, Mayor Gary McCarthy said. On Wednesday, a portion of the building’s parapet blew into the street, causing some bricks to come loose, he said.

As a result, Strong Street between Schenectady and Hulett streets was closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. A chunk of metal lay on the sidewalk next to the building, which members of the city Fire Department said fell from the roof earlier in the day.

A building inspector deemed the structure was a hazard and would need to be demolished. McCarthy did not know exactly what time that would take place as of Wednesday night, but fire crews stationed on the scene said they believed demolition equipment would start arriving about 8 a.m.

The city put out an emergency bid Wednesday for the demolition. Out of five responses, Jackson Demolition was the low bidder, with a submission of a little over $150,000, McCarthy said.

“I’d rather not being doing it,” McCarthy said of the demolition, “but the building has been deteriorating for some time.”