701_Shawnee_703_Depot_St_Inspection_August_2025.pdf

This is a structural inspection report dated August 11, 2025, prepared by Barry Isett and Associates, Inc. for the City of Scranton's Office of Economic and Community Development regarding the property at 701 Shawnee Avenue and 703 Depot Street in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The inspection evaluated the structures for potential demolition based on a visual exterior assessment conducted on April 6, 2023, and again on August 11, 2025. The evaluation determined that both structures exhibit significant structural failures including a collapsing roof and damage to wall construction and finishes that pose hazards to public safety and welfare. The inspector concluded that repair costs would exceed 85 percent of the property value, rendering the structures economically unfeasible to restore, though the damage was not classified as an emergency demolition situation.

The report provides critical documentation supporting the City of Scranton's December 2, 2025, bid solicitation for comprehensive demolition services at these properties. The inspection findings confirm the structural and safety concerns that justify the demolition project, which is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Program with a targeted completion date of January 30, 2026. The structural assessment serves as a foundational basis for bidders to understand project scope and site conditions, ensuring that qualified contractors can accurately estimate costs for complete building removal, utility capping, lot clearing, site backfilling, and reseeding activities.