A large brick industrial complex, the equivalent of a 10-story-high office building, has begun to collapse, forcing evacuations of nearby residents in downtown Mahanoy City.

"Families were evacuated. About 12 are affected," said Louis Huber, standing a block away from the former Kaier Brewery building shortly after noon Tuesday.Huber, a town councilman, lives in the nearby Mahanoy City High Rise and witnessed some of the bricks falling from the Main Street icon.The building has been a Schuylkill County landmark since the 1880s and was known for its lighted, 18-foot-high Christmas star atop the roof. Residents say the star shined like a beacon over the town.Even in neglect, the building continued to dominate the horizon from its slightly elevated location on the 100 block of North Main."It's the equivalent of a 10-story building," Huber said.However, years of neglect and decay took a toll that couldn't be overcome, residents said. It is unclear what caused the structure to shift and twist, but some at the scene said demolition workers most recently had cut through a large steel beam on the building's west side.The nearest neighbor, however, said he noticed the building listing quite a while ago. "I saw that it was starting to twist or turn about four or five days ago," said the man, who identified himself only as Robert and lives one door south of the brewery.The building was set to be dismantled as part of a borough improvement plan. Tuesday's developments accelerated those plans.Huber said large equipment was being brought in to try to take the building down as soon as possible.Kaier Brewery was one of the town's major employers and housed the largest beer-making operation in the county.Despite a long, proud history, the building is targeted for razing as part of a streetscape project and the area turned into a recreation area for children, according to borough officials.Mahanoy City acquired the property in recent years through an agreement with former owner George Mammerella, who transferred ownership to the borough for $1, according to Dan Lynch, borough manager.Built in 1880Founder Charles D. Kaier built the massive steel-and-brick tower in 1880 and then expanded it just two years later.Kaier's beer was popular among coal miners.According to Brewers Journal, sales in 1951 placed it as second only to massive Stegmaier Brewing Co. of Wilkes-Barre in terms of beer production."They're hoping to get a crane of some sort in short order," Dave Truskowsky of West End Fire Co. said.Mahanoy City plans to construct a new park in its place."It was in the beginning stages. He was starting to work around the perimeter and the rear. From our understanding, he started to move some bricks, and that's when the building shifted and twisted on him," borough official Bill Killian said.People were evacuated within a 300-foot radius. That is an area roughly three times the height of the building, Truskowsky said.Two nearby businesses were notified that they would be closed on Wednesday.The Red Cross was providing temporary housing Tuesday night.Neighbors theorized that the building was weakened over 40 years ago, when a previous owner removed an entire wall of the building to take out the brewing equipment.Others recalled how the building "told" them whether or not school would be canceled on a snowy day. For many years, a whistle on the roof would blow at 7 a.m. if school was canceled.Mayor Patti Schnitzius said that the borough tries to demolish as many blighted properties as possible. The Kaier Brewery presented logistical challenges, but they hope to turn it into a park for children."With all the demolitions we've done, as many as we can afford, we've never had something like this," Schnitzius said.Chris Reber contributed to this report.