Emergency demolition ordered after partial collapse of Eastern Market building

Detroit — An emergency demolition has been ordered for an Eastern Market building that partially collapsed Saturday.

The Del Bene building, at 2501 Russell Street on the corner of Winder and Russell in Detroit, collapsed at bout 11:38 a.m. 

A damage assessment found the building's south facade collapsed onto the sidewalk from the third and fourth floor, said David Bell, director of the Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department.

"The (emergency demolition) decision is based on the building being an imminent risk of further collapse in a location that poses a direct life safety threat to the public," Bell said. "A complete damage assessment has not been performed because of the concern for the health and safety and welfare of those who would enter."

The building has been condemned, Bell said.

One passerby Saturday had minor injuries and was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital while others were cleared, according to the Detroit Fire Department. The status of the injured person was unavailable Sunday.

The cause of the collapse was unknown. The Detroit Fire Department could not be reached for comment Sunday about the cause of the collapse.

The commercial building is owned by a Southfield-based limited liability company, according to city tax records. It was home to several businesses, including Beyond Juicery and Eatery, Jab's Gym, Detroit Vs. Everybody, J'adore Detroit and Brooklyn Outdoor, according to the Eastern Market Directory.

Armond Harris, owner of Jab's boxing gym on the third floor, was inside when the wall collapsed. You can look inside his gym from the street, Harris said.

"The brick wall failed and essentially collapsed," Harris said. "Our gym is dark inside and we have shades there, and in an instant, our windows just got ripped out."

The scene was chaotic, with people running to get out of the building as fast as possible, Harris said.

"Once the building started to fall, people didn't really understand ... You know, is the ceiling gonna cave in? Is the floor gonna give in?" Harris said.

Harris said has no idea what's going to happen to his business.

"It's pretty stressful," Harris said. "I'm just praying for all the businesses and lives affected in that building."

Candice Simons, president and CEO of Brooklyn Outdoor and J'adore Detroit, said she has been a tenant in the building for nine years. Simons' businesses take up the entire top floor and she was thankful none of her staff was inside Saturday.

J'adore Detroit is an event venue located on the building's top floor that Simons rents out to clients. Everything about the space was meticulously designed and represented the Eastern Market community, she said.

"We will be done if the building goes down. ... We can't rebuild this space," Simons said. "It's just really devastating to think about the fact that like, we might not like be able to step foot in that space again."

Bell said the building's tenants should plan to relocate their businesses.

"We will do everything we can to help them reestablish expeditiously," Bell said.

hmackay@detroitnews.com