On Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at approximately 5:20 p.m. the east wall of 612 Main Street collapsed.
There were two ground floor businesses and one occupied residential space upstairs. Thankfully, there were no injuries; one family was displaced and is staying with family. All utilities have been shut off to the building. The Building Department is working with the owner to analyze options and work out the information we receive, however, the cause of the collapse is yet to be determined. A structural engineer is working on assessing the building. In addition, we have an asbestos company on-site. Until we can determine what happened, no one is allowed inside the building for safety precautions. Once it has been determined what happened and what shape the rest of the building is in, the Building Department will assess whether the building needs to come down as 612 Main Street was built in 1888. The Economic Development team has reached out to business owners to provide assistance during this time.
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 in order to rectify a given situation. If there is a concern about the structural integrity of a building, citizens should contact 719-269-9011 and ask to speak to Kathy Ulsh, the City’s Building Official. Additionally, the City’s Urban Renewal Authority (CCARE) offers grant programs for life safety improvements as well as enhancements to building systems.
For media inquiries, please contact Public Information Officer, Kristy Gotham, at 719.429.0096 or klgotham@canoncity.org.
