MUSCATINE, Iowa – City officials in this community are weighing options – including possibly tearing down or repairing 17 buildings – over ongoing structural concerns after inspections of several downtown buildings, according to a news release made available Thursday, June 25.
The issue started after an order to clear out 20 buildings came when city engineers found structural issues after a partial roof collapse earlier this month.
On June 13, two buildings already slated for demolition were deemed unsafe after an exterior wall at 203 E. 2nd St. partially collapsed onto the roof of the 201 E. 2nd St. building. Precautionary inspections identified structural concerns in additional nearby buildings. Due to unexpected movement in surrounding structures, the city expanded inspections and evacuations throughout the block.
While mandatory evacuations of the impacted buildings will remain in place, structural engineers and safety officials do not expect further deterioration of the buildings.
About 36 apartment units and 18 businesses have remained impacted by the evacuation order.
“This has been a challenging time for downtown Muscatine,” Police Chief and Assistant City Administrator Anthony R. Kies said in the release. “While this situation hasn’t been easy, we are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure the safety of our community. We appreciate the patience and support of the community as we navigate this evolving situation together.”
Following the initial precautionary inspections of 20 buildings early this week, structural engineers and city leaders determined 17 of the buildings are structurally unsound and require repairs. The majority of the structural issues are confined to the 200 block of East 2nd Street. The buildings not located on that block are at 201 W. 2nd St. and 205 W. 2nd St.
The city is meeting with building owners to discuss two plans to address the structural issues — either demolishing or stabilizing the buildings. Through this process, the city will carefully evaluate which plan is best for balancing the needs of residents, businesses, and taxpayers. It hopes to have a decision and move forward on a plan in early July, according to information from the City of Muscatine.
Additionally, the city launched a new webpage with resources for residents and businesses impacted. The page also houses information from the Louisa Muscatine Disaster Coalition (LMDC), which launched Downtown Muscatine Relief, an online campaign to collect donations for businesses impacted.
The city continues to encourage residents to shop at local downtown businesses that were not impacted.
