PB Main Street shut by building collapse

Council to look at structural reviews

The top floor at the rear of the vacant, three-story building at 602 Main St. in Pine Bluff collapsed Friday prompting authorities to close off the street between Sixth and Eighth avenues as a safety precaution.

The top floor at the rear of the vacant, three-story building at 602 Main St. in Pine Bluff collapsed Friday prompting authorities to close off the street between Sixth and Eighth avenues as a safety precaution.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

PINE BLUFF -- Main Street between Sixth and Eighth avenues in downtown Pine Bluff was blocked off after the rear portion of an aging three-story building partially collapsed Friday afternoon.

The building was unoccupied, and no injuries were reported, officials said.

Bricks from the collapse littered an alley near another downtown building, but the neighboring structure wasn't damaged. Two Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services trucks responded to the collapse at 620 Main St. at 1:20 p.m. Friday, with authorities immediately closing off the area to vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

A message left for the building's owner, Garland Trice of Pine Bluff, was not returned Friday.

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2009 Little Rock Marathon map

Officials said they didn't know the exact age of the structure known as the Shriner Building, but they believed it was built sometime in the early 20th century.

The city's street department placed orange barrels across Main Street to prevent traffic flow until a decision is made about the building's future. Inspectors with the city's planning and zoning department were also on site to review the structure.

Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Chief Shauwn Howell said Friday afternoon that he has been in touch with demolition contractors "just in case it's deemed we need to have an emergency takedown of this structure."

Howell said he didn't know when such a decision would be made.

"The situation is very fluid right now, and there are a lot of things that are in play," he said. "Right now, we just want to make sure everyone is safe and that neighboring structures are protected from damage. I can tell you that the condition of this building is pretty bad right now."

Heavy rains that fell earlier in the week likely contributed to the collapse, which pancaked the roof down onto the building's third floor, Howell said. More than a third of the building's roof gave way, collapsing the top floor's south wall and most of the upper back wall.

A strong smell of mold and stagnant water filled the air around the structure. Tony Simms was walking past the building just after it collapsed and said he heard creaking noises.

"I thought the whole thing was about to go," Simms said. "I just thank God no one was in there. There are so many of these old buildings downtown that are disasters waiting to happen."

The building was the second to collapse in downtown Pine Bluff this year. In February, the rear section of a well-aged two-story building at 401 S. Main St. fell in the early morning hours. The rest of the building was brought down by construction crews a short time later, though rubble from the building is just now being removed from the site.

Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth said she and other city officials have long been concerned about the structural integrity of downtown's oldest buildings. The mayor said she is planning to introduce an ordinance to the City Council that would enable the hiring of a structural engineer who can "help us assess buildings that might be more compromised than others."

Hollingsworth added that the city has already "sent out letters to Main Street property owners letting them know we are going to be contacting them about reviewing the safety of their buildings."

State Desk on 07/26/2014