NEW ORLEANS — First responders are keeping a close eye on a building in New Orleans' CBD at Lafayette and O'Keefe. The three-story building partially collapsed Saturday evening, according to the New Orleans Fire Department.
On Sunday, football fans flooded the area for the Saints-Commanders game. NOPD was there to block off the road and parking lot located on O'Keefe between Poydras and Lafayette.
Saints fan, Austin Brack, had prepaid for a parking spot there, and was shocked to see it was blocked off when he arrived downtown Sunday morning.
“We’re in the spot that’s right next to the building that’s going to be collapsing soon," Brack said, “We did have to schedule a refund which was quick and easy.”
Not only does the closure decrease the number of parking spaces for visitors, but it also impacts nearby CBD residents.
Yasmine Filali-Adib lives across the street from the collapse and said she is unable to use the front door of her building.
“Not a whole lot of answers on what you’re supposed to do right now," Filali-Adib said.
The Paramount Building sent out an email to residents notifying them of the collapse.
"They told people if you’re on the front part of the building you need to evacuate, or they recommended evacuating, and then they told everybody that they need to get their cars off the street or they’re going to get towed," Filali-Adib said.
NOPD was directing residents in and out of two nearby parking garages.
On Sunday, Entergy crews were there to shut off power to the building.
NOFD reports cracks and shifts in its exterior walls and a forward buckle. You could see a large crack on the front facade as well.
The building houses an art gallery on the bottom floor and offices on its top floors.
In recent weeks, New Orleans has seen a few buildings at risk of collapse.
Last week, the New Orleans City Council approved $2.7 million to secure the Plaza Tower ahead of its demolition. Debris continues to fall from the skyscraper and the area is closed off nearby.
Plus, Cafe du Monde was closed for nearly 24 hours over the weekend after structural issues forced the famous French Quarter beignet spot to shut down.
Now, the area near Lafayette and O'Keefe will remain closed to cars for roughly two weeks, and pedestrians until Monday or until further notice, NOFD said.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported. NOFD said there were few, if any, people in the building at the time of the collapse.
[WATCH] Parts of building collapses in NOLA's Central Business District
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