- Credibility:
PILSEN — The facade of a building that houses a Pilsen art gallery collapsed Thursday afternoon. No one was hurt.
Around 3:10 p.m., the front of the building at 643 W. 18th St. gave way and collapsed into the street, Fire Dept. spokesman Larry Langford said.
Police cordoned off a section of 18th and Ruble streets where rubble fell onto 18th Street.
The building that houses an art gallery was “not occupied at the time of the incident,” and it wasn’t clear if the space was being used aside from storing art, he said.
Langford said the building was under litigation with Chicago Buildings Department for “dangerous conditions of the front wall.”
According to the city’s Department of Buildings, the building was inspected by the agency on May 11. At the time, the agency determined the building was in violation with the front wall leaning toward a public way.
Following the violation, the agency scheduled a court date for Sept. 6.
A demolition contractor is on the scene to clear debris and remove loose pieces of the wall, the agency said.
The agency will monitor the progress of repairs ahead of a scheduled court date, a spokesperson said.
