Lindy’s Diner Demolition Alters Downtown Traffic

The City of Albuquerque is moving toward demolition or forced stabilization of the Bliss Building, the 121-year-old downtown structure that housed Lindy’s Diner, after part of its east wall collapsed on April 27. City code officials had already red-tagged the property and ordered the diner closed on April 20 after inspections found structural hazards. As of May 22, road closures at Fifth Street and Central Avenue remained in place, and Mayor Tim Keller said the owners have until May 29 to decide whether to seek a demolition permit or a renovation permit. ### Why is traffic still disrupted around Fifth and Central? The City of Albuquerque said on May 1 that closures at Fifth Street and Central Avenue would remain “for the foreseeable future” because of ongoing structural instability. The city said it had added concrete Jersey barriers around the fencing and urged the public to avoid the area. Nearby businesses remain open and accessible, according to the city’s Planning Department. (cabq.gov) Mayor Keller told KRQE on May 15 that city officials could not keep the site in place indefinitely because of the risk of another collapse in “the heart of downtown.” He said the extension for the owners was meant to give them more time while preserving a deadline the city considered workable. ### What pushed the city to shut Lindy’s Diner before the wall fell? (cabq.gov) Code Enforcement said it conducted an external inspection on March 20 after a local news outlet contacted the Planning Department about the property. The city said two 311 complaints received between March 21 and April 10 led to another inspection on April 2, followed by a more detailed evaluation on April 20. (krqe.com) The April 20 inspection led the city to issue an Emergency Vacate Order. The Planning Department said inspectors found violations of the Uniform Housing Code, the Integrated Development Ordinance and the Uniform Administrative Code. Planning Director Alan Varela said at the time that the city hoped the owner would move quickly to preserve the building. (cabq.gov) ### What do officials say about whether the building can be saved? Mayor Keller told KRQE on May 8 that “the building has to be demo-ed,” saying construction work around the damaged structure would be too dangerous. Varela told the station that while “technically anything could be saved,” doing so would likely not be economically feasible and would be difficult from a construction standpoint. (cabq.gov) The city’s own timeline shows it brought in an independent structural engineer for a secondary review on April 30, three days after the collapse. City officials said they planned a May 4 debrief with the engineering firm as they continued evaluating the structure’s condition. ### What safety issues besides collapse are part of the site review? City officials said debris from the collapse was tested for asbestos as part of standard safety protocols. (krqe.com) The Albuquerque Journal reported on April 29, citing city spokesperson Tim Walsh, that asbestos was detected in portions of the piping and flooring adhesive, though the debris pile itself did not show signs of asbestos. (cabq.gov) Keller also told KRQE that officials were concerned about vibrations from wind and passing trucks near the weakened structure. That risk has been part of the city’s case for keeping barriers and detours in place around the block. ### Who owns the building, and what happens by May 29? Steve and Dawn Vetoseow, the owners of the Bliss Building and Lindy’s Diner, were originally told to file for demolition or renovation by May 15. (cabq.gov) The city extended that deadline by two weeks, to May 29, after the owners said they were waiting for State Farm to inspect the property and determine the insurance payout. Dawn Vatoseow told local media that the city had effectively already made the decision for them. (krqe.com) The next public milestone is May 29, when the owners’ extended deadline expires. Keller said the city could take further legal steps if no permit is filed by then, and KRQE reported the city has estimated demolition could cost at least $600,000, with the possibility of recovering that cost through a lien on the property. (krqe.com)