Demolition of Former Consol Energy Headquarters Begins

Demolition of the former Consol Energy headquarters building at the corner of Fort Couch and Washington roads in Upper St. Clair is under way.

The demolition work began inside the vacant building about a week ago after the landowners secured a demolition permit with the township, according to township Manager Matthew Serakowski.

Township officials will soon have a meeting with the landowners, Gerard Cipriani of Upper St. Clair and Hal Kestler of Mt. Lebanon, to learn more about their timetable.

Two nearby residents filed appeals after the township commissioners approved the rezoning of the land in October 2011. One of the appeals was withdrawn and a decision still has yet to be made on the other appeal on notification, according to Serakowski. The outstanding appeal does not prohibit the landowners from demolishing the building.

The approved text amendment allows the developers to build retail buildings with no more than 55,000 square feet of gross leasable area and a variety of residential units on the 28 acres. They must get a final land use plan approved by the commissioners before construction can begin.