On Saturday, during a busy Eastern Market day, part of a four-story building at Russell and Winder collapsed, showering bricks to the street below. The city has issued a demolition order for the 126-year-old building. One person was injured and some vehicles were damaged in the collapse.
The building is home to Beyond Juice, Jabs Gym, Detroit Vs. Everybody, Brooklyn Outdoor, and j'adore Detroit. Eastern Market Corporation said in a statement that they'll work with the business owners to relocate.
The building is owned by Scot Turnbull, who told Bridge Detroit, “It’s pretty much all in the city’s hands...I can’t even access the building to even look to see.” Turnbull bought the building, known as the Del Bene Building, in 2007.
Although demolitions can take months to approve and start, this one may happen quickly due to the danger to the public. The Detroit Free Press reports,
"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," said David Bell, director of the Building, Safety and Environmental Department, in a statement. "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."
Bridge reports that some blight violations had been issued since 2007, and a tenant had expressed concern the the landlord recently over the state of the bricks.
