And The Walls Came Tumbling Down City–Abatement Program Aims To Reduce Risks

Winslow resident Terra Coochwytewa said she was walking between the building and Romo’s Cafe when she heard a loud rumbling and the building began to crumble. Coochwytewa was able to get away from the building quickly, but a vehicle parked on the east side of the falling structure was crushed beneath the debris.

The building was vacant at the time of the event and no one was injured.

The Roxy Theater has been closed pending a structural assessment by an engineer to certify the building is safe to occupy.

City Zoning Administrator Cher Reyes said officials are looking into the cause of the collapse, but noted that in an instance such as this, lack of maintenance, a poor foundation, heavy rains weighing on a flat roof, and the rumbling of trains frequently shaking old structures can all be factors.

The now obliterated building was constructed in 1947 and was originally a Sprouse-Reitz, a five-and-dime store. It housed other short-term enterprises before being reopened as Ivah’s dress shop in the mid-1980s. The building was owned by Mike and Ivah Jeffers-Sample.

City Manager Ray Alley said the city has hired a contractor to clear away the building debris, and the building owners will be billed for repayment of the clean-up costs.

Most of the building was removed within 24 hours of falling, although the wall adjacent to the Roxy Theater will not be removed until a structural engineer determines it is safe to do so.

The collapse of Ivah’s comes at a time when the City of Holbrook has undertaken an abatement program to rid the community of derelict and vacant buildings.

The city has set a goal of removing one abandoned or damaged structure per month, or a total of 12 per year. In July, three homes were abated, including one single-family dwelling and two trailers.

“We want to get rid of these old vacant buildings because they’re unsafe, and also so we can beautify our community and have fewer places for transients to stay,” said Alley.

The city is offering a low-cost opportunity for building owners or homeowners who are interested in having their structures torn down or removed. Owners can contact the city to request abatement assistance, and the city will put them in touch with a contractor who will tear down the building and clear the lot of debris for $500 to $1,000, typically, depending on the size of the structure. The city will provide dumpsters and smooth the lot after the building is torn down or removed. The city sends metal from removed trailers to be recycled.

“So far, we’ve freed up six to 10 lots that could be used for new homes or businesses,” said Alley.

The program is being offered with the understanding that many owners avoid dealing with abandoned or unsafe structures because of the costs involved with dealing with asbestos or other hazardous building materials used in older construction, along with the costs of demolition and waste disposal. The city abatement program provides the costly services at a greatly reduced price, even waiving waste disposal fees.

Alley emphasized that the Ivah’s building was not targeted for the abatement program, and the city was unaware that it was at risk of collapse.

Reyes advised that owners of older structures can take measures to shore up their buildings to keep them safe as they age. Individuals can contact the city for information about assessing the structural integrity of buildings, as well as methods to improve stability and longevity.

For information on the derelict building abatement program, contact the city at (928) 524-6225.

Holbrook City Manager Ray Alley (left) and Arizona Public Service Co. Division Troubleman Bob Dunlap survey the damage after Ivah’s collapsed, apparently due to structural deficiency.

This vehicle parked in the alleyway on the east side of the ill-fated former Sprouse-Reitz building fell victim to the rubble.