A fixture of the downtown Butler landscape will soon disappear.

The historic Worsley’s building on North Main Street, damaged in a fire earlier this year, is to be torn down, according to the owners.

“We were hoping that someone could fix it and save it,” Cheryl Worsley said this morning, “but it would have taken a lot of money.”

Too much money, the Worsley family ultimately determined.

Plans are in motion to begin tearing down the building in the next several weeks. The demolition project itself would take three to four weeks, Cheryl Worsley said.

A fire March 11 left the three-story building on life support. Days after the blaze, city officials condemned the building and the fire department recommended it be torn down for safety reasons.

The Worsley family since the fire had been in contact with the Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation and at least one other group in hopes of saving the building.

Feasibility studies, however, in the end sealed the building’s fate.

The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code was apparently a primary obstacle. Any salvage plan would mean bringing the building up-to-date with the code’s strict requirements.

Renovation also would be costly because of the severe water damage caused while fighting the fire. The building’s interior is constructed of wood timbers and wooden floors.

“Everyone realized it couldn’t be done financially,” Cheryl Worsley said.

Worsley’s closed in 2014 after being in business for 87 years. It was founded in 1927 and sold a variety of merchandise including furniture, collectibles, paint supplies and teaching supplies.

The building also housed seven two-story apartments on its second and third floors. Six of the apartments were rented and one was vacant when the fire struck.

The building is owned by Cheryl Worsley, her sister Keri Dolan and their mother, Lorraine Worsley.

Cheryl Worsley said the demolition work could begin around Nov. 1. The insurance company is expected to cover most, if not all, of the expense.

John Evans, the city code enforcement officer, and Mayor Tom Donaldson, did not return telephone calls this morning seeking comment.