Published July 09, 2008 07:01 pm - A structural engineer will determine the fate of a vacant downtown building that partially collapsed late Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
Owner given 48 hours to strengthen building Collapse prompts detour on busy Route 20
By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
CONNEAUT — A structural engineer will determine the fate of a vacant downtown building that partially collapsed late Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
The city has laid out a series of steps in response to the collapse of the former Eagles clubhouse at 193 Main St., on the corner of Harbor Street (Route 20), interim City Manager Edward Somppi said Wednesday.
No injuries were reported, but traffic on busy Route 20 has been diverted around the building as a safety precaution.
Fire Chief Bim Orrenmaa will issue an order to owner Rudy Pryately Sr., giving him 48 hours to strengthen beams in the building to minimize risk of further collapse, Somppi said. Pryately then will have one week to have the building analyzed by a structural engineer, who will provide the city information on its future.
“We’ll develop an action plan for next week,” Somppi said.
Until the building is shored up, Route 20 will remain closed to traffic between Liberty and Main streets, said Police Chief Jon Arcaro.
“We did initiate a detour,” he said. “It’s causing us an issue, especially with truck traffic.”
Depending on the direction, traffic will use a variety of side streets, including Old Main Road and Liberty Street, to bypass that stretch of state highway, Arcaro said.
Even after the building is solidified, a fence probably will be erected around the structure to keep vehicles and pedestrians a safe distance from any falling bricks, Somppi said. That fence probably will mean the loss of one lane of traffic for the foreseeable future, officials said.
A large section of roof on the 90-year-old building collapsed around 4:30 p.m., taking with it a large chunk of the rear wall. The city brought in a private contractor, which knocked down big sections of loose brick that appeared ready to fall.
Orrenmaa said it appeared Tuesday’s heavy rains probably caused the collapse. Water apparently didn’t drain off the roof, and the weight of the water proved to be too much, he said.
The building had served as the home of Conneaut’s Eagles Club for decades until the club relocated to Old Main Road a few years ago. More recently, it had been used as a coffeehouse, which closed in 2007.
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