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$99,000 32,469 sqft 0.94 Acres Lot

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240 E 4th St, Emporium, PA 15834: Historic 32,469-Square-Foot Landmark Listed for $99,000

Finding a property with more than 32,000 square feet of interior space for under $100,000 is unusual enough to attract attention. Finding one that is also described as a Cameron County historical landmark, includes an auditorium, gymnasium, more than 20 rooms, multiple restroom areas, a basement, and nearly an acre of land makes 240 E 4th St in Emporium, Pennsylvania an especially distinctive real estate opportunity.

Currently listed for $99,000 after a $26,000 price reduction, this large historic property offers a very different proposition from a conventional house. It is not being marketed as a move-in-ready residence. Instead, the listing describes a mostly vacant property with substantial square footage, a parking lot, numerous rooms, and large shared spaces that could potentially support a variety of future uses.

Built in 1924, the three-level building contains approximately 32,469 square feet of total interior and livable area, including approximately 10,000 square feet of finished space below ground. The property sits on approximately 0.94 acres in the town of Emporium and is zoned R-3, according to the listing information.

For buyers with experience in historic properties, adaptive reuse, commercial or institutional buildings, or large-scale renovation projects, the property may be worth a closer look. At the same time, its enormous size and age mean that due diligence, renovation planning, building-code review, and an understanding of permitted uses would be particularly important before making a purchase decision.

Property Overview

Here are the primary details provided for 240 E 4th St:

Address: 240 E 4th St, Emporium, PA 15834
Current asking price: $99,000
Recent price reduction: $26,000
Approximate interior area: 32,469 square feet
Lot size: 0.94 acres
Year built: 1924
Property type: Single-unit
Levels: Tri-level
Bedrooms: 0 listed
Bathrooms: 0 full bathrooms listed
Half bathrooms: 6
Basement: Yes
Finished below-ground area: Approximately 10,000 square feet
Heating: Natural gas hot water
Foundation: Concrete
Roof: Rubber
Zoning: R-3
Annual property tax: Approximately $1,136
Parking: Parking lot; no garage
Price per square foot: Approximately $3
Lot: Approximately 0.94 acres
Year listed: 2026

The listing also notes that the property is currently mostly vacant, and that the photographs shown are from a previous listing.

A $26,000 Price Reduction Brings the Asking Price to $99,000

One of the most noticeable aspects of this listing is the recent price adjustment.

The property was reduced by $26,000 on July 24, 2026, bringing the asking price to $99,000. For a building of this size, the resulting advertised price is approximately $3 per square foot.

That number should not be interpreted as a conventional residential valuation metric, however. A 32,469-square-foot historic building with institutional-style spaces is fundamentally different from a typical single-family home.

The low price per square foot may reflect the property’s age, condition, vacancy, specialized layout, renovation requirements, and potentially limited pool of buyers who can make practical use of such a large building.

In other words, the headline price is only one part of the financial picture.

A prospective buyer would need to evaluate not only the acquisition cost but also utilities, insurance, maintenance, code compliance, roof condition, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, accessibility, fire protection, interior renovations, and the cost of adapting the building to its intended use.

A 1924 Building With Historic Character

Built in 1924, 240 E 4th St has been standing for approximately a century.

The listing describes the property as a Cameron County historical landmark, giving it a significance beyond its physical size. Historic buildings can offer architectural character and a sense of place that newer construction often cannot easily reproduce.

At the same time, age introduces another layer of due diligence.

A buyer should investigate the condition of the structure and major building systems rather than assuming that historic character automatically translates into redevelopment value. Older properties can contain both desirable architectural features and expensive maintenance requirements.

The building’s foundation is listed as concrete, while the roof is described as rubber. The windows are listed as single-pane without storm windows, another feature that may be relevant when evaluating energy efficiency and future renovation costs.

More Than 32,000 Square Feet Under One Roof

The sheer scale of this property is arguably its defining characteristic.

According to the listing, the building contains approximately 32,469 square feet of total structure and interior livable area.

That is an enormous amount of space compared with a typical residential property.

The listing specifically mentions:

More than 20 rooms
An auditorium
A gymnasium
Several sets of restrooms
A parking lot
Basement space
Approximately 10,000 square feet of finished area below ground

These characteristics suggest that the building was designed for a use substantially different from a conventional home.

The presence of an auditorium and gymnasium, in particular, could make the property interesting to organizations or buyers looking for large assembly or activity spaces.

However, the actual suitability of those spaces for any proposed future use would need to be confirmed through inspections, zoning review, building-code analysis, and discussions with local authorities.

The Auditorium Could Be an Important Feature

Large open rooms are increasingly difficult to create economically, particularly in established town settings.

The auditorium at 240 E 4th St could potentially provide a large gathering area for a future owner, depending on its current condition and applicable regulations.

Possible concepts could include community activities, educational programming, cultural events, meetings, recreation, or other assembly-oriented uses.

Those are possibilities rather than confirmed permitted uses.

Before purchasing, a buyer should determine the current zoning classification and verify whether the intended use is permitted by right, requires a special approval, or would require a zoning change.

The condition of the auditorium should also be evaluated carefully. Ceiling systems, flooring, lighting, electrical capacity, heating, ventilation, fire protection, emergency exits, accessibility, and occupancy requirements can all have major financial implications for a large assembly space.

Gymnasium Adds Another Layer of Potential

The listing also identifies a gymnasium.

A gymnasium can be useful for numerous types of organizations, including recreational groups, youth programs, community organizations, training facilities, educational uses, and private activity centers.

Again, the building’s current condition and legal status matter more than the existence of the room itself.

A buyer considering recreational or public-facing use would likely need to investigate occupancy limits, restroom requirements, accessibility, fire and life-safety standards, parking requirements, and other applicable regulations.

The gymnasium therefore represents potential flexibility, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed source of future income.

Approximately 10,000 Square Feet of Finished Basement Area

Another remarkable feature is the reported 10,000 square feet of finished area below ground.

For a building of this size, the basement could represent a substantial portion of the overall usable footprint.

Depending on its current condition and configuration, basement space might be useful for storage, mechanical equipment, offices, activity areas, support functions, or other purposes.

But below-ground space deserves special attention during inspection.

Buyers should evaluate moisture intrusion, drainage, foundation conditions, ventilation, electrical systems, plumbing, ceiling height, emergency exits, and any evidence of water damage.

A large finished basement can be valuable, but it can also become expensive to maintain if waterproofing or structural work is necessary.

Nearly an Acre in the Center of Emporium

The property sits on approximately 0.94 acres, placing a large building on a relatively compact town parcel.

The lot itself is not especially large compared with the building’s interior footprint. This makes the existing structure the central asset rather than the land alone.

The property also includes a parking lot, which is important given the size of the building.

Any future use that brings employees, visitors, tenants, students, customers, or event attendees to the site would require careful consideration of parking capacity and traffic circulation.

Local requirements should be checked before assuming that the existing parking configuration would satisfy the needs of a proposed use.

R-3 Zoning Should Be Investigated Carefully

The property is listed with R-3 zoning.

Zoning is particularly important for a property like this because the building’s size and institutional-style features could inspire many different redevelopment ideas.

However, a buyer should not assume that an attractive concept is automatically permitted.

Before closing, prospective purchasers should obtain current zoning information directly from the appropriate local authority and determine:

What uses are permitted under the existing zoning
Whether the current building has legal nonconforming status
Whether a change of use would require approvals
Whether commercial or institutional activities are permitted
What parking requirements would apply
What accessibility requirements would apply
What fire and life-safety standards would apply
Whether subdivision or redevelopment is possible
Whether additional exterior improvements would require approval

These questions can substantially affect the property’s real-world value.

Heating and Building Systems

The listing identifies natural gas hot-water heating.

For a 32,469-square-foot building, heating costs and system condition deserve serious attention.

Heating a structure of this size can represent a major operating expense, particularly if portions of the building are vacant or poorly insulated.

A buyer should determine:

The age of the heating equipment
Whether the system currently operates
Which areas are heated
Whether the system is zoned
The condition of boilers or related equipment
Historical utility consumption
Whether plumbing systems are operational
Whether the building has adequate electrical service

The listing also states that electricity and other building-system details should be investigated.

Large historic buildings often require a systems-level approach to due diligence rather than the standard inspection process used for a typical house.

The Roof Is Listed as Rubber

The roof is described as a rubber roof.

Given the building’s age and size, the roof should be one of the first major components evaluated.

Roof repairs or replacement on a building measuring tens of thousands of square feet can become a significant expense. A professional commercial roofing inspection could help establish the remaining service life and identify areas of deterioration.

The buyer should ideally obtain documentation concerning previous repairs, replacement dates, warranties, drainage, and current condition.

Single-Pane Windows May Affect Future Renovation Plans

The listing describes the windows as single-pane with no storm windows.

This is another characteristic that could influence operating costs and renovation decisions.

Depending on the property’s future use, replacing or improving windows might become part of a larger energy-efficiency or historic-preservation strategy.

Because the property is described as a historical landmark, buyers should determine whether any restrictions or guidelines apply to exterior modifications before budgeting for replacement windows or facade work.

What Could a Property Like This Become?

The biggest question surrounding 240 E 4th St may not be whether the building is large enough, but rather what a future owner could realistically do with all that space.

Potential concepts could include:

Community or Event Facility

The auditorium, gymnasium, restroom facilities, and parking lot could potentially support community-oriented uses, subject to zoning and code approval.

Educational or Training Space

The numerous rooms and large gathering areas could potentially be adapted for educational, vocational, nonprofit, or training purposes.

Recreation Facility

The gymnasium may make the property interesting for recreational programming, sports activities, youth organizations, or similar concepts.

Nonprofit or Community Organization Headquarters

An organization needing offices, meeting rooms, storage, and large gathering spaces could potentially benefit from the building’s existing configuration.

Creative or Cultural Space

Historic buildings sometimes attract arts and cultural organizations because they offer distinctive interiors and large rooms.

Adaptive Reuse

A more ambitious buyer could investigate a broader adaptive-reuse strategy involving multiple types of spaces under one roof.

Whether any of these concepts is feasible depends on zoning, financing, building condition, code compliance, accessibility, insurance requirements, and renovation costs.

This Is Not a Conventional Residential Property

One important point deserves emphasis: despite the listing being categorized as a single-family or single-unit property in the supplied data, this is not a conventional house.

The listing reports:

Zero bedrooms
Zero full bathrooms
Six half bathrooms
More than 32,000 square feet
An auditorium
A gymnasium
More than 20 rooms
Approximately 10,000 square feet of finished basement area

That means buyers should approach the property more like a large institutional or adaptive-reuse project than a traditional residential purchase.

The absence of bedrooms and full bathrooms also makes the property’s future residential potential something that would require extensive investigation rather than an assumption.

Tax Information

The listing reports an annual property tax amount of approximately $1,136.

That figure is relatively modest compared with the building’s enormous size, but buyers should independently verify current taxes, assessments, exemptions, and any outstanding municipal charges.

A future change in use or improvements to the property could potentially affect operating costs and assessments.

The buyer should also investigate whether there are any outstanding liens, code violations, utility balances, municipal requirements, or other obligations associated with the property.

Why the $99,000 Price Deserves Careful Analysis

At first glance, $99,000 for more than 32,000 square feet sounds exceptionally inexpensive.

The arithmetic produces an asking price of roughly $3 per square foot.

But low acquisition cost does not necessarily mean low total project cost.

For a building of this scale, even relatively small per-square-foot renovation expenses can quickly become substantial.

For example, if a future owner needed to spend money on roofing, electrical work, plumbing, heating, windows, accessibility, fire protection, flooring, interior finishes, or structural repairs, the renovation budget could exceed the purchase price by a significant margin.

That is why buyers should evaluate total project cost, not simply the listing price.

Who Might Consider 240 E 4th St?

The property may be particularly relevant to buyers who have a clear plan for large-scale space.

Potential buyer categories could include:

Historic-property enthusiasts
Experienced renovation teams
Developers specializing in adaptive reuse
Community organizations
Nonprofits
Recreational organizations
Educational organizations
Investors with a defined redevelopment plan
Businesses needing large specialized facilities

It may be less suitable for someone simply looking for an inexpensive home because the property is fundamentally different from a typical residential listing.

Questions Buyers Should Ask Before Making an Offer

Anyone seriously considering the property should investigate several areas before committing.

1. What uses are currently permitted?

Confirm the exact zoning and permitted uses with the local authority.

2. What is the current condition of the building?

A commercial or institutional inspection may be appropriate in addition to a standard property inspection.

3. Does the heating system work throughout the building?

Determine which areas are operational and obtain utility information if available.

4. What is the condition of the roof?

A professional roofing inspection could be particularly valuable.

5. Are there known code violations?

Ask for records concerning building, fire, electrical, plumbing, or occupancy issues.

6. Are there historic-preservation restrictions?

Because the property is described as a historical landmark, exterior alterations and renovation plans should be investigated.

7. What is required to reopen the building?

The listing notes that the property is currently mostly vacant. Buyers should determine what work would be required before any future occupancy.

8. Is the parking adequate?

This will depend heavily on the intended use and local requirements.

9. What are the actual utility costs?

A large building can have substantial heating, electricity, water, and maintenance expenses.

10. What financing is available?

Traditional residential mortgage products may not be appropriate for every large adaptive-reuse project. Buyers should discuss financing with lenders familiar with the property’s intended use.

A Rare Opportunity With a Large Due-Diligence List

240 E 4th St stands out because of its combination of historic status, enormous interior space, multiple large rooms, auditorium, gymnasium, basement area, and $99,000 asking price.

The property is not simply another low-priced Pennsylvania building. Its defining characteristic is scale.

With more than 32,000 square feet under one roof, the property could provide an unusually large canvas for an organization, redevelopment team, or buyer with a specific vision.

At the same time, the building’s age and current mostly vacant condition make careful due diligence essential.

The best way to evaluate a property like this is to separate the purchase opportunity from the renovation opportunity. The $99,000 acquisition price may be attractive on paper, but the eventual cost of making the building safe, functional, code-compliant, and suitable for a new purpose will determine the real economics of the project.

Final Thoughts on 240 E 4th St, Emporium, PA

The listing for 240 E 4th St in Emporium, Pennsylvania presents a highly unusual real estate opportunity.

Priced at $99,000 following a $26,000 price reduction, the property offers approximately 32,469 square feet on nearly an acre. Built in 1924 and described as a Cameron County historical landmark, it includes more than 20 rooms, an auditorium, gymnasium, multiple restroom areas, parking, and approximately 10,000 square feet of finished basement space.

Those features create possibilities that are difficult to find in conventional residential real estate.

However, the same characteristics that make the building interesting also make it complicated. A century-old, 32,000-square-foot property can require substantial investment in building systems, maintenance, safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and interior renovation.

For that reason, prospective buyers should approach the property with a detailed plan, realistic renovation budget, professional inspections, zoning confirmation, and a clear understanding of the building’s future purpose.

For the right buyer with the right plan, the building’s size and existing configuration could provide an interesting foundation for adaptive reuse. For others, the scale of the property could create challenges that outweigh the appeal of the low purchase price.

The key is to investigate the building beyond the headline number and understand exactly what is being purchased, what can legally be done with it, and what it would cost to bring the property into its next chapter.

240 E 4th St, Emporium, PA: Property Snapshot

Property Detail	Listing Information
Address	240 E 4th St, Emporium, PA 15834
Asking Price	$99,000
Recent Price Cut	$26,000
Building Size	32,469 sq. ft.
Lot Size	0.94 acres
Year Built	1924
Bedrooms	0 listed
Full Bathrooms	0 listed
Half Bathrooms	6
Levels	Tri-level
Basement	Yes
Finished Below-Ground Area	Approx. 10,000 sq. ft.
Heating	Natural Gas Hot Water
Roof	Rubber
Foundation	Concrete
Windows	Single-pane, no storm windows
Parking	Parking lot
Garage	None
Zoning	R-3
Annual Tax	Approx. $1,136
Price/Sq. Ft.	Approx. $3
Lot Dimensions	Approx. 0.94 acre
Property Type	Single-Unit
Historic Character	Listed as a Cameron County historical landmark
Notable Features	Auditorium, gymnasium, 20+ rooms, restrooms

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 240 E 4th St a house?

The supplied listing categorizes the property as a single-unit property, but its physical characteristics are very different from a conventional house. It has zero listed bedrooms, zero full bathrooms, six half bathrooms, more than 32,000 square feet, an auditorium, gymnasium, numerous rooms, and a large basement area.

How much is 240 E 4th St listed for?

The property is currently listed for $99,000, following a reported $26,000 price reduction.

How large is the building?

The listing reports approximately 32,469 square feet of total structure and interior livable area.

When was the building constructed?

The property was built in 1924.

Does the property have a basement?

Yes. The listing indicates a basement with approximately 10,000 square feet of finished area below ground.

Does the property have parking?

Yes. The listing identifies a parking lot and no garage.

What is the zoning?

The supplied listing information identifies the zoning as R-3. Buyers should independently verify current zoning and permitted uses before planning redevelopment.

Is 240 E 4th St a historic property?

The listing describes the property as a Cameron County historical landmark. Prospective buyers should investigate the exact designation and whether any preservation requirements affect renovations.

What could the building be used for?

Potential uses could depend on zoning, building condition, approvals, and applicable codes. The existing auditorium, gymnasium, multiple rooms, restrooms, and parking lot could potentially support various community, educational, recreational, cultural, organizational, or adaptive-reuse concepts, subject to confirmation.

Is this property move-in ready?

The listing states that the property is currently mostly vacant. Given its size, age, and specialized layout, buyers should expect substantial due diligence and should not assume that it is ready for immediate occupancy or a particular new use.

Real Estate Disclaimer

This article is based on the property information supplied for the listing and is intended for informational and editorial purposes only. Property conditions, dimensions, zoning, taxes, permitted uses, utilities, historical designations, and other details should be independently verified with the listing agent, local authorities, qualified inspectors, contractors, attorneys, lenders, and other appropriate professionals before making a purchase or investment decision.

Renovation concepts discussed in this article are possibilities for research and due diligence, not guarantees of permitted use, profitability, appreciation, rental income, or investment performance.

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