Building Superintendent Jonathan Flagg points out part of a wall that gave way on an Elm Street building this morning to City Engineer Mark S. Cressotti, as others assess the damage. (Photo by Dan Moriarty)
WESTFIELD – The facade of a building, slated to be removed because of the danger to pedestrians on the west sidewalk of Elm Street, collapsed this morning, injuring a worker thrown into the street.
A police officer at the accident scene said the worker was on a scissors jack which was thrown backwards by the weight of the concrete facade, coming to rest on the roof of a sports car parked on Elm Street. The worker was taken to Noble Hospital for evaluation.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik, City Advancement Officer Jeff Daley, City Building Superintendent Jonathan Flagg and City Engineer Mark Cressotti were assessing the damage this morning a short time after the accident occurred. City police and firefighters were also dispatched to assist with transport of the injured worker and traffic control.
Flagg had inspected the two buildings Wednesday, Aug. 29, then submitted an emergency demolition order for the two-story city-owned Block Building at 94 Elm Street, located at the corner of Elm and Arnold streets.
Flagg had also issued an order to the Hampden Bank, which owns the single-story structure abutting the city-owned building, to take action to ensure the safety of pedestrians using the Elm Street sidewalk in front of the building because of concern that the facade could fall off the building, onto the sidewalk on the west side of Elm Street.
Knapik submitted an emergency communication to the City Council Thursday night to appropriate $125,000 to demolish the two-story building. The council voted 10-2 to approve the emergency appropriation.
The employees of the firm hired to remove the heavy facade had set up a fence to keep pedestrians out of the work area where the debris would drop to the sidewalk as the facade was removed in small sections.
However a large section of the facade, which was bowing out from the building structure, sheared off the brick face of the wall and onto the scissor jack which tipped toward the street and onto the security fence, coming to rest on the sports car.
