Seattle Press on Line - Building Facade Crumbles, Tumbles in Downtown Fremont

Building Facade Crumbles, Tumbles in Downtown Fremont

Building owner Mike Peck surveys the damage. The red building on the right is Peck's new "beanie building."

May 29, 2001 -- Cleanup and repair efforts began within hours after tons of brick and mortar fell to the sidewalk on Fremont Place N (N 36th Street) in downtown Fremont. The crumbled building houses the Empty Space Theater, apartments and retail shops, including Armadillo and Longshoreman's Daughter restaurant.

The Empty Space Theater occupies a large part of the building, but didn't have a show going during the crash, which occurred at midnight on Wednesday, May 23. According to building owner Mike Peck, damage to the building was superficial, and the stores will reopen almost immediately.

However, the collapse did put a crimp in plans for the Fremont Street Bizarre Sidewalk Sale, set to be held May 26-28 by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. The sidewalk under the canopy along Fremont Place was to have been a key element in the annual event. The collapse is not expected to interfere with the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday, June 16.

No one was injured in the spectacular crash, which flattened two cars and attracted dozens of gawkers from the surrounding neighborhood and the Triangle Tavern, across the street.

Peck blamed the collapse on deterioration of the metal ties which held the brick facade to the underlying structure, saying, "There is no evidence the recent earthquake had anything to do with it."

He plans to restore the ornamental masonry and brickwork, including cast decorative panels, window eyebrows and an elaborate cornice, as fully as possible. It's important to Peck to retain the historical character of the building, which was built as an Oddfellows Hall in 1929.

Peck owns several buildings in the neighborhood, including the new "Beanie Building" at 36th and Fremont Avenue, marked by a snazzy Plexiglas-type dome atop a corner tower. The Beanie Building will be open for occupancy in July.

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