Overview
- A section of brick facade and attached scaffolding fell into the roadway on the 100 block of East Galena Boulevard, separating from the building just after 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and leaving a large hole in the front of the structure.
- Police and firefighters evacuated the building as a precaution, used a drone to inspect upper floors, and closed the Broadway–Galena intersection in all directions while crews secured the area.
- No injuries were reported in the initial updates and earlier claims that cars were trapped under debris had not been confirmed by authorities.
- Mayor John Laesch said the building had previous structural damage and city officials are working with the unnamed owner to review structural and engineering plans before permitting any reentry or repair work.
- The closure is likely to affect downtown traffic and businesses near the site as inspectors complete detailed assessments, and officials have warned residents to expect continued roadblocks while engineers determine if more work is needed; authorities will release further findings after their review.