(La Porte, IN) - Experts have identified what they believe caused a vacant three story building in downtown La Porte to partially collapse.  Structural changes that were made sometime in the early 1900’s are being blamed for the front one-third of the building collapsing on the night of October 26.    

 

La Porte City Engineer Nick Minich said the roughly 150 year old structure, located in the 700 block of Lincolnway, was originally three separate buildings.  He said the first floor of each building was later joined together by tearing down weight bearing brick walls.  These support walls were replaced with steel columns and beams.  The end result was more floor space for Lows, a popular clothing store in La Porte prior to closing roughly 40-years ago.

 

Minich said the work on the first floor was solid, but the modification changed how the weight of the building was distributed from the original design.  The weight load shifted a bit more toward the front of the building.  

Minich said, "That caused the structural deficiency that eventually became a failure".

 

What exactly broke or shifted to cause the collapse is not known, but age likely added to the weight related stress on that portion the building.

 

“It’s almost impossible to determine what the failure was but we do know it’s related to the renovations that happened many years ago,” he said.

 

The roughly 150 year old structure was being remodeled to offer retail on the first floor and apartments on the upper levels, officials said.  Minich said the current work was strictly cosmetic and not a factor.

 

Fortunately, nobody was inside or passing by the structure during the collapse, which sent a good number of bricks into the eastbound and westbound lanes of Lincolnway.

 

In response, city officials are in the process of developing a program aimed at preventing another collapse.  Mayor Tom Dermody said it’s too early to know the mechanics but grants and other sources of revenue could be involved.  He said the money would help property owners pay to have their buildings inspected and fix any major problems.  Downtown La Porte consists primarily of structures erected well over a century ago. 

 

Minich said he’s not aware of any other building joined together like the one that partially collapsed.

 

“We’re looking at trying to create something, kind of a voluntary program to help people have peace of mind,” Minich said.