The Penn Theater has been on Main Street since 1938. On Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, Butler City Council voted to demolish it. Butler Eagle file photo

Butler City Council voted Thursday to demolish the Penn Theater building at 145-151 N. Main Street.

At the meeting, Butler mayor Bob Dandoy said the theater — which has been owned by the Butler Redevelopment Authority since 2009 — has been in disrepair for years, and the problems with its structure are growing to the point where timely repair seems improbable.

“There are a number of problems with the building that need to be addressed sooner (rather) than later, and it’s been a long time,” Dandoy said.

He said the approval of the demolition comes “with not a whole lot of joy.”

Councilman Fred Reese, who is on the Redevelopment Authority, said the repairs required to restore the theater are too large in scope and too expensive for its owner to address. He said the authority was aware the council would take action on the building.

While council voted to demolish the building on the grounds that the structure is detrimental to public health and safety, Dandoy said it will be a long time before the wrecking ball comes down.

He also said the only possibility for the building to avoid demolition would be for the Redevelopment Authority or another party to pay for the necessary fixes.

“Even if someone says they are going to buy it, they still have to correct the deficiencies and they have to do it in a very timely manner,” Dandoy said. “This is the first step in a very protracted, lengthy complicated process, but it is the first step.”

The art deco theater originally opened in 1938, seating up to 1,100 moviegoers. It was closed in 1991.

In 2009, the Butler Redevelopment Authority borrowed $290,000 from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to buy the building, a loan which it has not yet paid off.

Council said at the meeting that there will be discussions about financial obligations regarding the Penn Theater.

Council also set its meeting schedule for 2023. The council will stick to the same schedule it had this year, other than the 6:30 p.m. forum meetings held the second Thursday of the month, which will start at 7 p.m. instead (just like the voting meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month).

Also at the meeting, City Council and Bureau of Police chief Bob O’Neill recognized Cheryl Litz, a sergeant who is retiring from the department after more than 20 years of service; and Myles Bizub, who will be promoted to sergeant in her place.