The back wall of the building at 115 South State Street in Waseca fell in two sections at about 1:15 the afternoon of Wednesday, April 2. No one was injured; tenants have been helped in finding temporary housing. Pioneer photo by Eli Lutgens
Back wall of 115 S. State Street falls, displaces tenants
Wed, 04/16/2025 - 8:15pm
The back wall of an apartment building located at 115 South State Street in Waseca collapsed between 1 p.m. and 1:17 p.m. Wednesday, April 2. There were no injuries reported; power and gas were turned off that same day.
First responders answered the call at 1:15 p.m. Waseca Police Chief Kris Markeson said the structure includes 10 apartment spaces with 10 tenants: all were safely evacuated. Residents were allowed short periods, accompanied by police, to pick up necessary items or medications. For safety, surrounding buildings and apartments were also evacuated, but those occupants were allowed back in their homes by Wednesday evening; the 115 South State Street building remains empty. A business named The Design Box operated out of the building for a time, but had ceased operations.
The 100 block of South State street was temporarily closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic much of Wednesday afternoon with a temporary detour for Highway 13 in effect for about 2 hours. Any displaced residents were sent to the public safety center where emergency management personnel could lend assistance and help find temporary housing; with the assistance of the Red Cross and Waseca County Emergency Management, all now have short-term housing.
The city building inspector and an engineer had inspected the building by 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The majority of the building is made of brick. Blockades remain in place on the alley and parking spots east of the building; the sidewalk in front is also closed off.
Caution warnings had been in place behind the building and the space there had been cleared prior to the collapse because occupants of nearby buildings had noted as much as two weeks beforehand that the back wall was bowing outward–one witness estimated by as much as three feet. Officials had reportedly already been in touch with the building’s owners regarding the danger and possible remedies. As of Friday evening, April 4, no decision has been made regarding the future of 115 South State Street.