ST. ALBANS, W.Va., – The private owner of the former Lantz Lumber Company building at Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street plans to demolish the structure in early to mid-October. The demolition is not a City of St. Albans project. The City did not order or fund the work and did not make the decision to remove the building.
City officials began working with the property owner about 12 to 18 months ago as part of a broader effort to address deteriorating buildings. The City helped secure Brownfields grant funding for a structural assessment
and asbestos survey. The initial survey did not include the roof, so the roof was tested separately. That test
found no asbestos in the roof material.
When City officials learned the property was being sold, representatives involved in the transaction approached the City about donating the building. City staff began preparing the administrative subdivision needed to separate the building from the larger property. The City intended to accept the building and pursue grants and private investment for its redevelopment. Before the transfer advanced, the City was notified that the owner had chosen demolition instead.
Building and Zoning Administrator Marshall Chaney contacted the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office before the permit process moved forward. In a Sept. 3 email, the office confirmed that the building is a contributing resource to the St. Albans Railroad Industry Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as NR No. 100005412.
The office also confirmed that the privately funded demolition does not require review under the federal Section 106 process or West Virginia Code 29-1-8 because no state or federal funds will be used. SHPO requested that the City consider a voluntary due diligence review documenting the project, the rehabilitation options explored, and the building itself. The office stated that the review is optional and that there are no legal consequences if the City elects not to submit it.
“The City did not choose demolition,” Mayor Scott James said. “We pursued a way to preserve the building, including a potential transfer that would have allowed us to seek grants and private investment. When the owner chose a different course, our responsibility was to consult the State Historic Preservation Office, respect the rights of the property owner, and make sure the work proceeds through the proper permit process.”
The building also presents a long-standing concern for emergency responders. The St. Albans Fire Department has treated the property as a collapse hazard in its preincident planning. If a fire occurred there, the department’s plan called for firefighters to remain outside the structure and operate from a safe distance.
“For years, our emergency plan for this building has been defensive because of the risk of collapse,” Fire Marshal Chris Collins said. “We would not send firefighters inside. Removing the structure eliminates a known hazard and reduces the risk to first responders.”
No final demolition date has been set. The contractor must obtain a demolition permit before work begins and is expected to notify the City before equipment moves onto the site. The City will release confirmed timing and information about any public impacts when those details are available.
