High wind responsible for building facade collapse in Racine

RACINE (WITI) -- High wind on Sunday night, November 17th is believed to be responsible for the collapse of part of a building in Racine. Witnesses saw the facade to a very old structure fall to the ground, causing a lot of damage.

On Monday, contractors were at work in the 3000 block of Washington Avenue in Racine.

William Burns was walking on the sidewalk nearby on Sunday night.

"I was walking down the street coming from the pharmacy last night. The wind was blowing so bad the wall just caved in and landed on the lady's car parked down in front. It just came down in one big section," Burns said.

A parked car took the brunt of the building facade collapse.

The car's owner was walking her dog at the time and saw the collapse but didn't want to talk about it. However, the avalanche of bricks and the flattened vehicle is the talk of the neighborhood.

The 360 Degree Hair Studio is right next door to the facade collapse.

"It's a blessing that it wasn't us, and nobody got hurt. I was devastated, but now that I see it I'm just glad that it wasn't my salon," Lateasha Gates said.

The building with the troubles was built in 1920, but a source says many old buildings have similar issues with crumbling mortar -- and all it takes are strong winds or enough traffic vibration to cause a collapse.

Last year, another building in Racine was deemed to be in danger of a similar fate, and the city ordered it to be demolished.