The city redevelopment authority on Thursday released a letter outlining numerous violations at the Penn Theater building on Main Street.

The letter, called a notice to abate code violations, came from the city’s code enforcement officer to the city redevelopment authority.

It cites more than a dozen violations to the exterior of the property the authority owns and multiple problems to the interior theater and the connected business space. The authority had not made the report public due to potential litigation.

Solicitor Tom Breth said there is still potential litigation relating to the letter.

But he said, “the board felt the notice should be released to the public.”

The authority on Wednesday sent a response to the city concerning the letter stating that it does not have the money to make immediate repairs to the structure.

Authority Executive Director Art Cordwell said the redevelopment authority is not allowed to use state money to repair the building because it does not meet the state’s guidelines, specifically due to a lack of a set plan for the building.

The city notice states the authority must repair the violations within 30 days. However, John Evans, building code official, previously said the city works with property owners so long as they are working toward making the repairs.

The redevelopment authority said in its response letter that it hopes to fully cooperate with the city and wants to address safety concerns with the structure.

“We have to look at the safety standpoint,” Cordwell said.

Breth said the authority hopes to meet with city officials soon to discuss the property.

Robert Koch, code enforcement officer with the city, did the report.

In the report Koch said there is “evidence of unsafe conditions” concerning damage to exterior walls, marquee, window openings and, support columns. Portions of the ceiling on the marquee are loose, missing, falling or have been removed. Water has damaged many of the exterior components, and there are exposed electrical and mechanical components. Koch said one of the exterior walls does not appear to be exactly vertical.

Other violations reference trash or debris in the exterior of the building, damaged gutters, overgrown vegetation and chipped paint. There are several interior violations to the theater and the business space at 151 S. Main St.

The theater has damage to the stage area, seating area, bathrooms, attic, stairs, offices and electrical room on both the first and second floor.

The vacant business space at 151 S. Main St. was given nine violations, including issues with its plumbing, fire protection devices, leaking roof, and damaged electrical components.

The basement of the property also had violations.

The Check Your Mate Investigations office on the opposite side of the building was not inspected because code officials could not access the business.

However, the authority said Steven Braden, owner of the business, is moving out by the end of the month due to concerns with the building.

Cordwell said the authority does not have an estimate on what it would cost to repair the property.

He said an estimate done in 2009 found it would take more than $4 million to completely renovate and restore the structure.

The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, which has the mortgage on the property, started making improvements to the theater’s facade Tuesday.

The city redevelopment authority bought the Penn Theater in 2009 using the foundation’s loan program.

The authority owns the property but says it does not have the money to make its mortgage payments.

Cordwell said the authority would not object to any renovations done by the foundation but questioned whether it was a good investment at this time.

“I think it could end up being a waste of money,” he said. “If all they do is fix the front end, then the back of the structure falls down or the city condemns the property and tears it down — what good is it?”