Demolition ordered for collapsed Iowa building

The city of Davenport, Iowa, is making arrangements to demolish what remains of a six-story building that suffered a partial collapse in late May.

Local reports say city officials determined the remaining part of the apartment building is structurally unsound and even former residents should not be allowed back inside. A demolition process could start as soon as May 30, according to an incident report posted from the city of Davenport.

A Davenport spokesperson told the Des Moines Register that local officials have concluded a search for people in the rubble caused when a portion of one wall of the building collapses.

No deaths have been reported from the May 28 incident, but one person was taken to a hospital for treatment. The building, located in downtown Davenport, reportedly has about 80 residential and four commercial units in total.

A news release issued by City Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Ott says, “The owner of the property has been served with a notice and order for demolition of the property, [which] is currently being secured by a contractor on site [Monday] afternoon, and demolition is expected to commence [Tuesday] morning.”

“With the current structure in imminent danger of collapse, the necessity to demolish this building stems specifically from our desire to maintain as much safety for the surrounding areas as possible,” Rich Oswald, Davenport’s director of development and neighborhood services, says in a statement statement.

“We appreciate the expertise of the professionals collaborating on site to determine the best way to do this,” he adds, though he does not name any contractors involved.