NEW ORLEANS — Parts of O'Keefe Avenue were closed off by crews from the New Orleans Police Department and New Orleans Fire Department due to structural bricks and debris falling from a building's façade on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The closure encompasses O'Keefe from Girod to Lafayette streets, as well as Lafayette Street from O'Keefe to Baronne Avenue, which was blocked off by police tape at 9 p.m.
"A bus, a large vehicle could come down the street, just the vibration could possibly cause more damage, more debris to fall and possibly collapse," said NOFD spokesperson Captain Edwin Holmes. "What we want to do now is make sure everyone is out of harm's way until this incident can be properly accessed."
The building, located at 938 Lafayette Street, houses The Helis Foundation John Scott Center and has been undergoing renovations on the structure's exterior over the past month.
The Helis Foundation John Scott Center is a 6,000-square-foot art museum that includes a contemporary art gallery and event space located on the first floor of the building.
The NOFD said the building is currently unoccupied and that few – if any – people were in the building at the time of their arrival.
As an ongoing safety precaution, police have blocked both vehicular and pedestrian traffic in all directions within a one-block radius.
"We are asking that this area of downtown be avoided until further notice," stated an NOFD media release after 10:30 p.m. "Entergy Gas and Electric are also assisting with the mitigation of this incident."
This is a developing story.
Check back for further updates.
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