Engineer warns Blue Street Printing building is unsafe; council moves to secure site and explore options

A structural engineer who inspected the former Blue Street Printing building on East Ninth Street told Hopkinsville City Council on Oct. 21 that the structure shows “significant deterioration” and is “not safe for occupancy” in its current condition.

The engineer, identified in the meeting as Mr. Gardner, told the council his team performed a visual interior and exterior review on Oct. 2 and found extensive roof and parapet damage, water infiltration, failing mortar in exterior brick walls and settled, cracked floor slabs. Gardner said the roof system shows sagging and areas where flashing and coping have deteriorated, allowing moisture to enter the building and accelerate the decay.

Gardner read his executive summary to the council: “Without remediation and repairs, the building poses potential risk of failure due to water, displaced brick, compromised floor slabs, roof framing damage, and parapet damage. Until stabilization or demolition is completed, the property should remain…