BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Demolition at the Walnut Street Garage site near Main Street in North Bethlehem will halt after a beam fell on a neighboring building just after 8 a.m. this morning.
There were no injuries reported.
City Chief Code Officer Mike Simonson said there was “mild damage” to the structure, which happened to be a corner condominium just across the street at the intersection of West Walnut and Guetter streets.
“Demo will cease for approximately a week.”Bethlehem Chief Code Officer Mike Simonson
“Demo will cease for approximately a week,” Simonson said, during which time the city will reevaluate the design of the plan for the remainder of the demolition.
Neighbors will still see work in progress, though, as rubble will continue to be removed from the site, he said.
Simonson said city engineers examined the damage and made sure the scene was safe. Repairs also were made to the condominium to make sure there would be no ensuing water or other damage.
'A short earthquake'
Melis Carroll, president of the Payson House Condominiums’ board, said nobody was inside the unit when the beam fell, and the tenant walked through the property alongside engineers to assess for damage.
“I saw the collapse happen,” Carroll said. “And everyone ran outside because they felt the units shake.
“It felt like a short earthquake.”
She said the condo board of directors would need to discuss the specifics of any further repairs potentially needed following a "temporary fix."
Payson House Condominiums are part of mixed-use structures, featuring ground-level retail. The store below the condo that was struck is Into the Myst Metaphysical Shoppe, which was closed at the time the beam fell.
'Could have been a disaster'
The owners of the store said they felt “very fortunate.”
“We’re very grateful nobody got hurt because it could have been a disaster this morning,” one owner said. “ … It could have been a lot worse.”
Current demolition progress looks to include a majority of the West Walnut Street side of the parking deck. The south end of the garage, which is mostly still standing, sits right next to a number of historic homes and businesses along West Market Street.
“We’re very grateful nobody got hurt because it could have been a disaster this morning. … It could have been a lot worse."Owner of Into the Myst Metaphysical Shoppe
City Council approved the demolition of the nearly 50-year-old garage back in October, and recently overruled the city’s Historical Architectural Review Board on the design of the replacement structure.
The incoming garage will be taller than the old one, featuring 243 fewer spaces to make room for some kind of mixed-use development on the westernmost end of the property.
