Several residents were ousted from their apartments at 26-28 Putnam St. Thursday when a large bulge in the side of the three-story brick building was reported to the city. Fearing the building would collapse as it was drenched by rain, officials ordered it evacuated, condemned and razed.
The demolition process was expected to take 8-10 hours, said Mike Fuschi, city building official.
He said the age of the building, which dates back to the late 1800s, and water helped weaken it.
A ceiling in a living room of the building collapsed in 1956, according to inspection records. The ceiling was repaired, and the collapse is not believed to be connected to Thursday’s problem.
The city is helping with the relocation of the six families, said Maribel La Luz, spokesperson for Mayor Pedro Segarra.