CALGARY – A large hole has opened up in the brick wall of a downtown building that started crumbling last week, prompting the city to order the east side of the building to be torn down.
The state of the building, located at 608 7th Street S.W., first sparked concern on Tuesday, May 20th after bricks started falling from the exterior wall.
On Sunday, a section of bricks about six meters wide and four meters high broke from the wall and crashed down into a parking lot below. The bricks crushed some cars left in the parking lot since the building first began to crumble.
Fire crews say it’s too dangerous to move them, and the incident also left a gaping hole in the side of the building.
“It’s a matter of imminent danger,” said chief building official Marco Civitarese, of the decision to tear down the building.
He added that the incident highlights the importance of properly maintaining buildings, regardless of age.
“It’s extraordinary in the knowledge that it wasn’t a wind event,” Civitarese said. “Whether it’s a new building or an old building, maintenance is a concern.”
The structure remains closed, and although 7th Street S.W. is open to traffic the bike lane has been closed down. Construction is slated to start as soon as possible.
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