A Sewickley landmark, most recently featured in the Tom Cruise action movie Jack Reacher, is scheduled to be demolished soon, according to borough officials.
Sewickley Mayor Brian Jeffe said crews have been working since early January to remove asbestos from the former Sewickley Country Inn at 801 Ohio River Boulevard. Demolition is set for late January or early February.
Borough officials deemed the building to be hazardous and unsafe. Sewickley police have responded to several trespassing complaints at the property, most recently when officers had to escort a group of teens off the premises.
"As mayor, I couldn't permit the safety issue we have now," Jeffe said.
MCM Ventures, the propery developer, agreed to have the building torn down.
The inn has been tied up in litigation since 2010. That's when Michael Lyons of Sewickley filed a spot-zoning challenge against the zoning hearing board's decision to re-zone the property from single-family to multi-use, according to court documents.
The developer had proposed constructing two office buildings along the Route 65 portion and homes along the Thorn Street side.
In November, Commonwealth Court determined the zoning hearing board must consider the spot zoning claim.
Sewickley Solicitor Richard Tucker said the zoning board is scheduled to meet Feb. 5 on the matter. The property can be torn down in the meantime, he said.
The Country Inn, formerly a Holiday Inn, was a fixture in the community for about 50 years, serving as a hotel, restaurant and bar, and banquet facility.
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