Storms likely caused part of old downtown Petersburg DMV building to collapse, officials say

PETERSBURG − City officials say weather is likely to blame for the partial collapse of the former Department of Motor Vehicles building in downtown Petersburg.

City spokesperson Joanne Williams told The Progress-Index that the debris fell into Brickhouse Run, one of the many streams that meander through and below Petersburg. The stream had been exposed to the elements ever since a portion of the building's former parking lot caved in three years ago.

"The structural engineer determined that the building was unsafe and that debris needed to be removed immediately," Williams said. A contractor will remain onsite throughout the evening to clear out Brickhouse Run.

An aqueduct that carries Brickhouse Run below Bank Street was inspected and found to have no damage as a result of either the weather or the building collapse.

The old DMV building has been vacant for many years. A private owner bought it a few years ago and was in the process of doing some excavation work around the front of it when part of the parking lot collapsed. The site has been closed off to pedestrians since 2021 when a woman fell into the sinkhole.

No one was injured in the most recent collapse.

Bank Street between North Sycamore and North Market streets was closed to vehicular traffic while crews worked to clear the collapsed debris.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Storms likely caused part of old downtown Petersburg DMV building to collapse, officials say