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 other members of 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 it receives; however, the cause of the collapse is yet to be determined. A structural engineer is working on assessing the building. In addition, there is an asbestos company on-site. Until the City 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.
Originally, there was a building next door at 614 Main St., which was originally an Opera House, built in the late 1880s, according to information provided by the Royal Gorge Museum and History Center. It housed BirdLanes bowling establishment until part of the roof collapsed in October 1959 due to a snowstorm that delivered 24 inches of very heavy wet snow. In 1967, the building was torn down for a parking lot.
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.