Mike Wolanin | The Republic A view of wind damage to the wooden framework of the gas station being constructed at 11th and Washington Streets in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023.
Construction framework at a downtown property collapsed Thursday morning amid high winds.
The incident occurred at 11th and Washington, where developers are working to create a new gas station and convenience store. Columbus Code Enforcement Officer Fred Barnett said the wind blew down the framing sometime before 10 a.m.
“Apparently the wind had actually collapsed the walls and they fell kind of in on themselves,” he said. “And the only wall that was remaining standing was the wall that was facing 11th Street.”
Out of concern for pedestrian safety, Burnett took emergency action and had the city garage knock down the remaining wall so that it wouldn’t fall into the street.
He doesn’t believe there is any danger of the wind blowing the collapsed materials around. He said the materials were all two-by-fours that are now stacked on top of each other, and the contractors are “getting it taken care of.”
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Bartholomew County until 7 p.m. Thursday, warning of 15 to 25 mph southwest winds and gusts up to 45 mph.
“With the wind the way it came in, I’m not really surprised,” said Bartholomew County Chief Code Enforcement Officer Michelle Cox. “But any time you’ve got winds and you’ve got framing started like that, it can happen. Luckily it doesn’t happen very often.”
She said that the contractors had just begun framing, so the structure was not yet secured. Moving forward, they’ll have to clear off the site and start over. Then, once the property is ready, the code enforcement department will perform what’s known as a “rough of all trades,” which involves inspection of framing and mechanical pieces.
Columbus City Council voted in September to approve the second reading of an ordinance vacating public right of way for an alley at the 11th and Washington Street property, which was requested by GSD Petroleum.
A small grocery store is located north of the alley; the former Marathon gas station site is located on the south side. Planning officials have said that the existing grocery will also be demolished as part of the area’s redevelopment.
The approved site plan from GSD Petroleum and Columbus Food Mart, LLC shows a new convenience store at 11th and Washington, along with tenant space that could serve as a restaurant, City/County Planning Director Jeff Bergman said at the time. The pump island is expected to be further north on the property.
