Partial roof collapse on Granville Street prompts structural review, businesses allowed to reopen

A partial roof collapse on a private building on Granville Street in Sunbury on Feb. 4 prompted immediate safety measures and a structural review, city officials said during the Sunbury City Council meeting.

City Manager mister Hesse told the council that the collapse did not injure anyone and that gas, water and electric services to the building had been turned off. "Nobody was hurt," he said. He said the property owners have engaged their insurance firm and that a structural engineer will inspect the building; the Delaware County Building Safety Office will receive the engineer's report to determine whether the structure is salvageable or must be taken down.

The city placed snow fencing to secure the front and rear of the site and reopened the adjacent street once immediate hazards were controlled. Hesse said two property owners — the chamber building and an antique store — had been cleared to open the next day "if they choose to do so." He added that the city's service team is supporting on-site safety work.

Sunbury's police chief (unnamed in the meeting transcript) described the rear of the building as "very unstable" and said officers would maintain extra control to keep people away until an engineering assessment is complete. The chief said police used a drone to inspect interior damage and that the drone was retrieved after a collision; he named Officer Ebright as the officer involved in the drone flight.

Hesse said the city does not yet know whether the building can be repaired; the structural engineer's report will inform next steps. The city emphasized that, for now, responsibility rests with the property owner, although the city and county offices are providing regulatory oversight and support.

The council was told to expect follow-up once the engineering assessment and county review are complete.