Future of building that had facade partially collapse in Kaukauna coming into focus

KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) – We’re getting a clearer picture of what’s in store for the building in Kaukauna that had its facade partially collapse on Father’s Day.

The owner of that building, which houses The Galleria of Tile and a tenant on the second floor, said they’re taking steps to make sure the building is safe so that they can eventually reopen.

“We are looking to hire a company to demo all the brick take it down, and then after the demolition we will get the building sided,” said owner Amanda Septimo who opened up the business with her husband six years ago.

She said they’ve been told that there’s nothing wrong structurally with the foundation of the building. Local 5 News has a records request pending with the city of Kaukauna to get the structural integrity report on the building.

Septimo said that in the days following that tornado that ripped through Kaukauna in May, she noticed that some of the bricks in the facade of the building looked a bit loose and twisted. She said she told her husband about it and he contacted a contractor.

“I alerted my husband to get a company to fix these bricks, he did hire someone but they no showed and canceled all at the last minute the last time they were supposed to fix the bricks,” she said.

On Father’s Day, the facade partially collapsed sending bricks crashing into the street. Nobody was hurt.

“It was pretty devastating and upsetting, but we’re so grateful that nobody was injured,” said Septimo.

After the collapse, the city of Kaukauna shut down all lanes of Lawe Street for safety reasons. Last week, they reopened the far right lane going northbound but the other three lanes remain closed for safety reasons.

“Still keeping them far enough away that if any bricks fall they won’t land on the vehicles or anything like that,” said Kaukauna marketing and communications director Andrea Fencl.

The building housing The Galleria of Tile isn’t the only older brick building in Kaukauna. In fact, there’s many others in the downtown. Local 5 News asked if the city is monitoring these other buildings.

“The city conducts regular building inspections, they have regular conversations with business owners,” Fencl said.

City officials said they don’t know when they’ll be able to open up the rest of the lanes on Lawe Street in front of the building. For now, traffic on that street heading south should follow the orange detour signs.

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