Work is still underway to bring down the Realty Building, but it's taking longer than expected.

A deadline was set for August 2 to demolish the structure to the fourth floor, but that's about a week away and all 12 stories are still standing tall.

That deadline was crucial because that's when funding was supposed to run out, to help the 173 tenants of International Towers.

Organizations like United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley are unsure when residents of International Towers can get back inside the building. But they say they have enough funding to keep them housed elsewhere if the area is still unsafe.

"We are good to go through another two weeks beyond that August 2 date into mid-August." Roxann Sebest, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley's vice president said. 

With all floors still standing at the building, another wrecking ball and crane are set to work in tandem with the current machinery to speed up the operation starting next week.

Despite repeated public statements saying the city expects the building to be down to a safe level by that deadline, Director of Public Works Chuck Shasho today denied any knowledge of the progress. However, Shasho says the August 2 deadline is "probably unlikely." 

21 News attempted to reach out to the contractor Gary Modarelli, for comment but he said he had no comment before hanging up his phone.

Still, the United Way says they'll keep looking for ways they can help.

"We are not going to leave the International Towers residents out there to dry. We're going to work hard to make sure that they remain where they're at with a roof over their head, eating the food and basic necessities that we're able to provide them" Sebest told 21 news. 

In an email, a spokesperson for Mayor Tito Brown says the goal is to complete the work necessary to open International Towers and Federal Plaza as quickly as possible.

The spokesperson added if there are any delays beyond their August 2 target date they will be minimal.