Parts of building facade fall, injure person in Downtown El Paso
UPDATE (Oct. 9, 2026): A vintage store owner near the damaged building said the incident didn’t surprise her.
Darlene Escandon owns Jane & Jensen Vintage Nostalgia Shop. Her shop is right next to the building that caused a sidewalk closure after part of it fell on someone.
“It’s just alarming now that nothing still has been done with that building, even though the city has tried several times to reach out to do more for the building to take responsibility for it as well,” Escandon said.
She hopes the city will continue to monitor the situation to ensure safety for residents and customers.
According to the El Paso Central Appraisal District, local businessman Billy Abraham owns a business that owns the property.
UPDATE (4:30 p.m.): Part of the building fell due to “deteriorated structural connections,” the City of El Paso said. Staff said the remaining part of the eave is “an imminent danger to public safety” due to its instability.
Staff will need to remove the rest of the cornice. The sidewalk will stay barricaded in the meantime, the city said.
“This is private property. Notices will be posted at the property and mailed to the property owner tomorrow morning. The property owner will be given an opportunity to address the conditions identified in the notices before the City determines what additional action may be necessary. This may include the City removing the remaining cornice and placing a lien on the property to recover the associated costs,” the city said in an update.
City staff also confirmed there’s no building permit activity associated with the property. They looked at electronic records that extended back at least 20 years, officials said.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Part of a building facade fell on a person in Downtown El Paso Thursday, according to the City of El Paso. That person went to a hospital.
It happened just before noon. The El Paso Fire Department received a call about “an incident at a building near East San Antonio Avenue and North Mesa Street.” ABC-7 saw the sidewalk across the street from the Fallas Parades (La Popular) building closed off.
The city said part of the building’s eaves fell and injured the person, who went to a hospital with minor injuries. Eaves are the edges on a roof that extend past the outside walls of a building.
A bystander said he was eating lunch in the area when he heard part of the eaves fall. He heard the injured person “mumble that he was in pain.”
The El Paso Police Department has blocked off the sidewalk in the immediate area. City staff are assessing the property for any safety concerns.
Code Enforcement and Planning and Inspections staff are assessing the property to decide what steps to take next.
Planning and Inspections staff said the property doesn’t have active work permits. Staff said the building has been vacant and are reviewing the property’s history.
Staff are trying to contact the property owner about the building’s condition.
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