MEDINA -- Several downtown Medina businesses were forced to evacuate after a portion of a building collapsed Monday morning.
A brick wall at the rear of the century-old building housing Gardener's Cottage gift shop collapsed, sending bricks tumbling to the ground on Court Street. The collapse was a domino effect after a car port on the building fell last night.
No injuries were reported.
Crews from Columbia Gas and Ohio Edison are on scene and building inspectors are determining if the building can be saved. Wrecking crews are on standby if the building must be torn down.
"Our concern is with the other wall," Medina Fire Chief Bob Painter said. "It's three stories over a group of single stories so if it comes down, it could go through the roof of another unit, as well as across Court Street. That's why you have the main thoroughfare closed."
All businesses on the block have been shut down until the area is deemed safe and utilities can be turned back on, which fire officials say could take up to two days.
The Medina Police Department says Court Street remains closed between Washington Street and Smith Road.
"Even if they give us the go-ahead today, the line-up, the demolition crews, that's going to take time," Painter said.