Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Feb. 2017 Gazette photo of building after initial collapse.
A new owner and a new plan is underway for the site of a roof cave-in at the former Cohn Motor Company's red brick building in Tekoa.
Eric Bretz last fall took over as owner from Keith Andersson, after Andersson signed a quit claim to the building on the corner of Main and Crosby Street.
Bretz told the Tekoa City Council Dec. 17 of his plan to repair and refurbish the building for future use.
The first order of business will be to make the building safe. Tekoa Building Inspector Steve Haxton has deemed that will require taking off the top floor of the building.
"That would suffice if they wanted to use it later," said Tekoa Mayor, Troy Wilson, who has directed Haxton to document any progress on the building with pictures every two weeks.
The city council has given Bretz until their meeting Feb. 19 to tear down the building's southeast corner to the first level, and repair a beam on the southwest corner.
If Bretz does not make progress, Mayor Wilson indicated the city council may step in.
"We'll know in the first quarter of 2019," Wilson said, suggesting the second floor will come down one way or another this year.
"Since the building is condemned, it's a safety issue. If nothing is done, the city will take further action," he said.
The roof caved in under snow January 26, 2017.
Old cars remain stored on the upper floor.
"Back in the '40s and '50s, they built cars a little stouter, they may probably be the only thing holding the roof up," Haxton said with a chuckle.
If the roof and second floor are removed, the building still will have to be determined safe,
"There's still a question," Haxton said, noting some "significant cracks" in the bottom floor.
Built before 1902, the auto shop/gas station building has not been used as a business since Redfern & Sons went out in the 1950s.
An estimated 1,200 square-foot section of the roof and part of two walls collapsed. The building has been fenced-off by the city since.
"The thing's a mess," Haxton said.
Efforts to reach Bretz for this article were unsuccessful.
"I wish Mr. Bretz luck," said Wilson. "I hope he's able to do what he's committed to do."
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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