SCHENECTADY – Anchoring a section of downtown surrounded with multi-million-dollar projects and improvements, a business on the busy corner of State Street and Erie Boulevard is crumbling.

Last week, Schenectady's Chief Building Inspector Chris Lunn said he and a code enforcement officer responded to multiple complaints to the city about bricks tumbling from the structure. That visit led to three violations being issued against the owner under the state maintenance code.

Work to erect a 6-foot-high fence around the sidewalk of the Wedgeway building, a century-old six-story structure, is slated to get underway Wednesday, according to Lunn. On Tuesday, the area on the Erie Boulevard side of the building, a combined residential-retail structure with a marquee for the former State Theater, has wooden barricades and "sidewalk closed" signs.

The deadline for the owner — listed in city property records as William Eichengrun — to submit plans to the city to fix the problems is Wednesday.

“He claims that he is going to immediately hire a structural engineer to perform the work that we’re looking to have done,” said Lunn, adding he wants the repairs to Wedgeway done in a timely fashion. “The last thing we want to do is take someone to court but I’m fully prepared to do that.”

Eichengrun, who does business with a partner as 271-277 State LLC, could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

The Daily Gazette was the first to report on the city's decision to close the sidewalk after bricks dropped from the building.

The building, which can be accessed via State Street and in the rear, houses businesses on the ground level with apartments above. A barbershop recently relocated and a tattoo shop has plans. It is not clear if the apartments are occupied.

Lunn, who said he has had lingering concerns about Wedgeway, attributed the dangerous structural problems to the century-old building “showing its age.”

“It’s a very old building, it’s very unique inside and we want to make sure that its maintained and is a safe place to live if it’s going to be open,” added Lunn.

He said Tuesday that the city building department computer system shows a variety of complaints about the Wedgeway building dating back to 2011.

Lunn said the west side parapet wall of the building is degrading and needs to be repaired.

Located in Lower State Street, the Wedgeway is adjacent to new $23 million Amtrak station that opened up to much fanfare last year. It also sits near the high end Electric City apartments and the $30 million Mill Artisan district that features a brewery along with 74 apartments and several retail spaces.