Facade of church on Chicago's South Side collapses after failed inspection
CHICAGO (CBS) – Part of the front of a church building came crumbling down in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood Friday morning.
Members of the Chicago Fire Department happened to be driving by when they saw the falling facade at Kingdom Builders Christian Center in the 1600 block of West 63rd Street.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reported that a crew was working to remove loose bricks and secure the area around the building to ensure no one was hurt.
Bricks covered the sidewalk and even dropped into the street.
The city's Building Department said a contractor will remove all unstable masonry and then tarp off the building. It cannot be demolished because it shares a wall with a shelter for women and children.
City records show the building failed an inspection on Nov. 20 of last year. Inspectors noted three violations:
- Failed to maintain the exterior walls of a building or structure free from holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards or timbers and any other conditions which might admit rain or dampness to the walls.
- Failed to protect public sidewalks or thoroughfare from work done under permit.
- Failed to maintain lintel in good repair and free from cracks and defects.
A lintel is a horizontal support that usually carries a load across an opening, like a door or window.
The inspection report said the exterior wall on the second floor of the building had bricks with fractured mortar over the pedestrian walk way. There were also loose bricks that were shifting. Inspectors also found problems with the bricks on the front, west and rear sides of the building.
The cause of the collapse is under investigation. The church did not immediately return a call for comment.
CBS 2 also learned the Department of Buildings also cited the owner on Aug. 15, 2023 for exterior facade violations. The owner is being prosecuted in Cook County court.
The owner of the building did not respond to a request for comment. They're supposed to be back in court on March 18.
