Detroit orders emergency demo of Eastern Market building after partial collapse

The city of Detroit plans to demolish an Eastern Market building that recently collapsed because of its dangerous state, reports the Detroit Free Press.

The two top floors of the Del Bene building collapsed around 11:38 a.m. on Sept. 17, injuring one person passing by.

“The emergency demolition decision is based on the building being an imminent risk of further collapse in a location that poses a direct life safety threat to the public,” David Bell, director of the Building, Safety and Environmental Department, said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press. “There is one alteration permit that is currently open for the first and second floor and two other sets of plans have been submitted for this building.”

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The cause of the incident is still under investigation and a timeline for demolition has not been determined.

Because of safety concerns, the Free Press reports that a comprehensive damage assessment has not been carried out. However, an initial assessment indicates that the south facade collapsed from the third and fourth floors onto the sidewalk below, and the roof is structurally unsound.

When the exterior wall fell during the collapse, metal and bricks fell down the nearby sidewalk and road, damaging a few parked cars. The collapse also exposed the inside of the building's upper level.

The Del Bene building was built in 1897 and currently houses Jabs Gym, J'adore Detroit, Detroit Vs. Everybody, Brooklyn Outdoor and a Beyond Juicery and Eatery. Tenants are being advised to plan for relocation.