Building's poor condition slowing demolition work

By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

Work to remove the top of the burned Argyle apartment building in downtown Findlay was slowed Sunday by the poor condition of the 122-year-old building.

Service-Safety Director Paul Schmelzer said Alvada Construction Co. workers started shoring up the walls of the four-story building and dismantling the top floor Saturday night, and work continued Sunday.

But the eastern top of the building, which officials are most concerned about because it is bowed out toward South Main Street, is crumbling, Schmelzer said. Its condition is forcing workers to remove small chunks of the building, using cranes.

The building was more damaged by fire, water and the elements than originally thought, he said.

The project's scope hasn't changed, but "it's become a little more difficult," Schmelzer said Sunday.

Schmelzer also said high wind was expected to return Sunday night, which could force crews to halt what they're doing for safety reasons.

Once most of the fourth-floor walls are removed, officials believe the building will be stable enough for investigators to enter and look for the cause of Thursday's fire.

Schmelzer said he then hopes to get Main Street reopened, and allow access to the Argyle building by tenants and insurance adjusters, "sometime Tuesday afternoon."

"This is not all great news, but we're progressing," Schmelzer said.

A structural engineer hired by the city on Friday recommended the fourth-floor demolition. The roof fell in during the fire, and the upper walls are not connected to anything else. Below, "everything is still tied together" and structurally sound, Schmelzer said.

Structural integrity has been compromised not just by the blaze, but by high wind and the large amount of water used to fight Thursday's fire. The water has been expanding and contracting as it freezes and thaws.

"For the businesses under the Argyle (apartments), you can expect the worst" in terms of damage, Fire Chief Tom Lonyo told affected business owners over the weekend. "Over four million gallons of water were poured into that building and it all ran down."

"Every day it (the structure) gets worse. As of (Friday) the building had moved again," Lonyo said.

"This is a moving target," said Findlay Fire Investigator Eric Habegger. "We don't know what types of problems we're going to get into."

Main Street, from Sandusky to Lincoln streets, continues to be closed.

But some businesses on that part of Main Street are open, despite being within a barricaded area.

They include: Bryant Shoes; Glass City Window and Door; the Heck Professional Building, which includes Jerry Payne Agency, Patti Baumgartner-Novak, Damon D. Alt, Bolotin Law, Charles Boyk, and AFLAC; the Arts Partnership; Ambrosia Tanning; Guitar Ranch; Dress for Less; Romans; Core Fitness; Northwestern Mutual; Central Marathon (accessible from East Lincoln Street); RCM Architects and Engineers; Ameriprise Financial; Elks Club; Trends on Main; Property Analysts; Main Street Deli; Massage Professionals of Ohio; the Blackford Building, which includes Moyer Financial Services, Bosse Financial Services, CBC Companies, Noggle Law, TFC Architects, Lisa Miller Law, and Golden Feather Photographic Art; Scrambler Marie's; Hancock County Probation Office; Eastman & Smith Law; and Chase Bank.

Apartments above these stores and offices also remain open, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Brown: 419-427-8496

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Twitter: @CourierJoy

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Building's poor condition slowing demolition work