Muscatine evaluates 200 block of downtown after building collapse

Buildings on 201 and 203 E. 2nd St. in Muscatine collapsed late Friday night. They were designated for demolition earlier this summer, and now the city of Muscatine is evaluating the area via drone footage. Mayor Brad Bark said it appears that the neighboring buildings are stable for now, despite structural connections throughout the block.

For the past six weeks the building on East Second Street have been a spectacle. Many people have stopped by to look at the building that looks like it collapsed in on itself.

“I’ve lived here most of my life. It’s weird cause a lot of the places are close now and it’s crazy that all these old buildings are coming down,” said Colton Ineichen, a Muscatine resident. “Just cause it’s a rich part of Muscatine’s history, so it kind of sucks.”

The city unveiled a six-month recovery plan in July calling for demolishing the buildings at 201 and 203 E. 2nd St., while stabilizing the rest of the block to preserve the historic buildings. That plan may now have to change after both buildings collapsed on their own during a night of heavy rain on July 31.

The initial structural issues displaced residents and businesses. On July 15, the city announced all affected residents and businesses had found temporary or permanent locations. Some other businesses on the 300 block of E. 2nd St. are still working to reopen after making repairs to the building foundation.

“The Waffle and Pancake House, me and my mom go there a lot just because it’s got good food,” said Ineichen. “But it’s closed down now cause of all the buildings falling down so not able to get that is kind of annoying cause I love that place.”

The Waffle and Pancake House plans to reopen on August 6th. The 200 block of E. 2nd St., just across the road of the restaurant has a more uncertain future. Mayor Brad Bark told Our Quad Cities News the city hopes to have an idea of the next steps this week.

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