Engineers fear building will collapse

Engineers are worried about the possibility of "immediate collapse" of a building off the public square on East Depot Street that has been deemed unsafe for human habitation by the City of Shelbyville.

Part of the sidewalk at 109 E. Depot St. is blocked by barrels and yellow caution tape to keep pedestrians out of the area where bricks have already fallen from the facade of the building.

A pair of civil engineers have examined the structure and are "both concerned about its immediate collapse," said planning and codes director Kip Green.

The city is in the process of acquiring estimates to either demolish the building or stabilize it, Green said. Specialized contractors would be required to perform that type of recovery because an adjoining piece of property shares a common wall with the failing structure, he said.

Green says another problem is that the alley which separates the building from the structure housing the Center for Family Development contains a great number of public utilities.

Codes official Scotty Farrar said in April the building was declared dangerous when its condition was brought to the city's attention in March at the request of owner Alice Albright, who was said to be having "some issues" with a tenant.

Upon entry to the building, Farrar noticed serious structural deficiencies, which caused him to declare it dangerous. The walls are damaged and the roof is sagging by several feet due to water that has accumulated over the years.

Green said when engineers recently inspected the building, they took one look at the roof and refused to walk upon it.

Under the legal process, the city had to give the owner 60 days to take action by repairing or demolishing the building. But that deadline has come and gone and Green said that the city has had no further contact with Albright, who resides in Alaska.

"We've had no official word from her," Green said. After getting all the necessary information together about the structure, the city would be able to proceed to the courts to start the demolition process.