The Brownwood City Council met today in regular session and released a structural engineering report regarding the Old Southwest Appliance building.
The report pertains to the downtown building in the 100 block of North Center know as the “Old Southwest Appliance Building.” Last month part of the roof collapsed on the two story building as workers had been doing some renovations inside (see original article HERE).
The City of Brownwood released the structural engineering report today that they had ordered from Doyle D. Harper Engineering, Inc from Abilene regarding the building.
The cover letter to the city says,” The building is presently barricaded, as the structural integrity of the building is considered by the city to be questionable.”
Although this structural engineering study of the building cannot determine the cause of the roof collapse at this time, it does have 3 recommendations as how to make the building safe:
- Repair the masonry above the door [where a crack is visible]
- Remove the collapsed roof. If this cannot be accomplished in a timely manner then holes should be provided in the roof membrane to allow drainage [water is found to be standing from recent rains]
- Remove the debris on top of the existing exterior stonewall.
The report concludes, “After the remedial work described above is performed, the barricades could be removed and the streets and sidewalks should allow safe passage.”
Shortly after the roof collapse, Prudential Ross Real Estate owner, Ross Setzler confirmed that he has a client interested in purchasing the building to save it from demolition (see original story HERE). The new buyers wish to remain anonymous until the closing of the sale. Currently there is a pending purchase contract between the buyer and seller.
View our photo slideshow of the Old Southwest Appliance building shortly after the roof collapse.
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