As the demolition of one of the two buildings slated to be razed in downtown Hopkinsville has been completed, an issue with an adjoining building has been identified.
The report dated Tuesday from Kelly Gardner, Principal Engineer of Gardner Engineering and Consulting PLLC, is addressed to Assistant Fire Chief Chad Sivills.
It said following the demolition of 806 South Main Street, the former Lee’s Pool Hall building, a shared wall with 804 South Main Street was found to have severe structural deficiencies.
“These deficiencies include missing mortar from brick joints (typical of old brick masonry when the lime mortar breaks down to dust over time), weakened/loose mortar, broken brick, cracked brick, dislocated brick, and insufficient bearing of wood floor joists,” stated the report.
The report added the conditions are considered “pre-existing and inherent with the means, methods, and materials used during the original building construction (late 1800s to early 1900s).”
Additionally, the report cited interior water damage to the building that formally housed Boyd’s Bridal and Formal Wear, along with other issues, after being allowed inside with the building owner’s permission.
Gardner further stated it was his professional opinion that the building was in imminent danger, with a potential for collapsing. He added in its current state, the building is unsafe for occupancy and is a public hazard.
In the report, Gardner suggested three options moving forward:
- Replacing the wall in its entirety
- Constructing a new structural wall outside the existing wall and tying it to the floor and roof systems, in turn leaving the existing wall in place
- Demolishing the entire building.
Gardner stated that before demolition could even be considered, an engineered plan/scope for demolition methods and an engineer’s review of the building at 802 South Main Street would have to be completed.
