Waukesha Building Not Fit For Occupancy: Fire Department

WAUKESHA, WI — Fire officials on Friday discovered “significant structural concerns” in the building that housed the former Family Video store.

No injuries were reported in the building at 139 E. Broadway. The building was determined to be unfit for occupancy, Charlesworth said.

Brian Charlesworth, fire marshal, said a member of the fire crew who was driving back from a call noticed the damage.

“They saw the roof sagging in the front,” he said. “The owner and contractor put up a brace but there is more work that needs to be done,” Charlesworth said.

The Waukesha Fire Department, including the Special Service Team, responded after the report. The cause of the damage is unclear, according to a department news release.

Charlesworth told Patch a portion of the front overhang on the roof was in the process of collapsing.

“Right now it is a structural repair. An engineer was there today for an evaluation and will be writing up a report. The report will be given to the city,” Charlesworth said.

The building was turned over to the Community Development Department for follow-up.

A new unidentified tenant signed a lease for the former video store in June, according to Michael Kohne, regional director leasing and property management at Legacy Commercial Property, which owns the building

"We currently have a tenant signed, and they are within their contingency period. Until they waive contingency, I will not divulge who it is," Kohne told Patch.

Marco's Pizza and the Dollar Store, located in the building, are currently closed. A city engineer’s report will determine when the businesses can occupy the building again.

"The Waukesha Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to remind our citizens of the importance of recognizing unsafe buildings and to report them to the city," the fire department said.