Snow, rain collapsed Landmark roof, pushed out wall

Tim Krohn, The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.
Updated ·3 min read

Feb. 15—Snow and rain are suspected causes of the roof collapse on the Landmark Center building Tuesday in downtown Mankato.

"There was the snow load and then the rain came, and the snow just absorbed the rain until it all ran to the middle of the building because that's how the roof is sloped," said building owner Jon Kietzer.

"We think that as it rushed to the center the rafters just caved in. It's just one of those anomalies."

He said there are a few drain pipes that run from the center of the roof, pipes he assumes were frozen shut. He estimated about 15% to 20% of the roof collapsed.

Kietzer said the roof collapse also bulged out the third floor wall on the Main Street side of the building."

Public Safety responded to the call at 4:16 p.m.

Mankato Police Cmdr. Dan Schisel said police and fire personnel cordoned off the streets and sidewalks around the building to keep people away from the structure and ensured the building was evacuated. The building was empty as it's been awaiting renovations and expansion.

The city brought in its drone to inspect the inside of the building without having to have people enter it, Kietzer said.

Public Safety crews, as well as a city engineer were on scene Wednesday morning, working with the private contractor and engineer who will determine how to shore up the building.

Most of the streets around the building were reopened Wednesday afternoon, except for a portion of Main Street alongside the Landmark building. That portion is expected to reopen late next week.

Kietzer brought in RW Carlstrom Co. to evaluate and do the work to shore up the building. He said his insurance company adjuster was expected to arrive Wednesday.

Kietzer's $13.2 million project aims to transform a century-old building — originally built as a three-story car dealership at the corner of Main and Second streets — into 33 upscale apartments, Mankato's first micro-distillery and an event center.

He said renovations hadn't begun on the building, although some demolition work had been done earlier. Kietzer said he still hopes to begin the renovation and expansion project this spring.

The project includes adding a fourth floor to the Landmark building and constructing a four-story addition on its northwest side. A new skyway will connect the new Landmark Apartments to the City Center Hotel, which will be renovated in a separate project also scheduled to begin this year.

Landmark Apartments will offer a micro-distillery, cocktail lounge and event center on the ground floor with apartments on the upper floors, including balconies and a fourth-floor garden terrace. Up to nine one-bedroom apartments are planned with rents starting at $1,600 a month. About 15 units will include two bedrooms, with monthly rent in the mid $2,000s, and the remaining three-bedroom units will go for $2,800-$3,100 a month.