EDITOR'S NOTE: The No. 9 story of 2024 is the partial building collapse on Main Street.
Cañon City residents were shocked to discover a partial building collapse March 26 at 612 Main St.
Emergency and utility crews responded to the structure at about 5:20 p.m. They discovered that portions of a first- and second-floor east exterior wall had broken away from the building and collapsed.
At the time of the collapse, there were two ground-floor businesses and one occupied residential space upstairs. The couple living within the residence were not home at the time of the collapse.
"The one corner wasn't attached to the building -- it was an addition that had been put onto the building so all they can assume is that it came unattached from the side and it finally let go after all these years," said the city's building official Kathy Ulsh. "The block wall that was abutted up to the original building was flush, and it wasn't tied into any of the blocks so it was an actual outside block wall."
City Administrator Ryan Stevens estimates that the addition was constructed sometime in the 1960s though the original building was built in 1888.
"There have been engineers that have gone into the original building, and they say it's still structurally sound," Stevens said.
A hair salon and Atomic Vapor had previously been housed in the building's lower floors but have since moved to other sites. The couple also have found other lodging.
A structural engineer was commissioned to inspect the building but a concrete cause has not been located.
As noted by Ulsh, the addition that collapsed has been removed, the site has been cleaned up, and the original building has been secured. At this time, nothing additional has been done to the original building.
"If you see huge cracks on the inside of your apartment -- that would be a red flag," Ulsh said. "Everybody was shocked when it happened, it happened so fast."
Stevens noted that the collapse occurred just after a large spring snowstorm, which may have attributed to the collapse, but there is no definitive evidence one way or another.
"If people have concerns about the structure of their building they should be talking to their building owner or they can reach out to the building department," Stevens said.
The city requires that proper permits are obtained for construction activities. The city is currently using the 2018 International Building Code, including the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code. The city's Building Department responds to complaints regarding unsafe structures as they are reported and has taken action, including citing cases to the municipal court to rectify a given situation.
If there is a concern about the structural integrity of a building, citizens should call 719-276-5253 and ask to speak to Kathy Ulsh, the city's building official.
Additionally, the city's Urban Renewal Authority offers grant programs for life safety improvements and enhancements to building systems.
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