The city has issued a letter to its redevelopment authority outlining numerous structural deficiencies with the former Penn Theater on Main Street.

Art Cordwell, executive director of the authority, informed the board that he received the letter Thursday.

“It was pretty condemning for the building,” Cordwell said.

John Evans, city building code official, said in an interview that the report indicates cracks in the structure’s masonry, bricks shifting in the walls, water damage in the interior, numerous electrical violations and a lack of utilities.

Neither the city nor the authority provided a copy of the letter at this time. The authority is researching to see when it can release the letter.

Evans said the vacant building was not posted as condemned, but is unsafe for occupancy.

The inspection of both the inside and outside of the building was done July 31 and Aug. 12 at the request of Mayor Tom Donaldson.

“I asked them to look into it to make sure we don’t get another Woolworth’s,” Donaldson said, referring to the former Woolworth’s store at the corner of Main and Cunningham streets that collapsed in 1999 after sitting vacant for years.

Evans said the roof of the structure is leaking, which has caused the other issues to worsen.

“It’s often a kiss of death whenever a roof is leaking, and its roof is leaking,” Evans said.

Cordwell said he is not sure what the next step will be for the authority.

“It would be very costly to bring it up to code,” Cordwell said.

Cordwell did not give a cost estimate, but said the authority does not have the funding for the work.

“I don’t see any way to upgrade the building,” he said.

Solicitor Tom Breth said the authority must respond to the city’s letter by Sept. 2, although he did not yet know what that response would be.

The redevelopment authority still technically owns the property, although it has not made a mortgage payment on it in several months.

The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation holds the mortgage and was set to make some repairs to its facade this summer.

“I don’t know what their response will be,” Cordwell said.

Breth said the authority was unable to pay for the building due to initial revenue streams falling through.

“There were funds promised that never materialized,” he said.

The state last year told the authority it can no longer spend state money on the property because it does not have an identifiable project goal that would meet Pennsylvania guidelines.

Evans said the city in general requires owners of properties with code violations to provide a plan of corrective action.

While repairs are expected to be done within 30 days, the city is flexible as long as a corrective plan is in place, Evans said.

Breth said the authority will meet with the city to discuss immediate action that may need to be taken, including whether it will need to secure the perimeter of the building.

Donaldson said he does not know what the future of the building will be.

“It’s a tough project that would require a lot of money and a lot of people with money,” Donaldson said. “It’s the ugliest building on Main Street that has been empty for a long time. I have to be concerned about the safety of the public.”