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George Garabedian has run a jewelry business for 30 years in the same Downtown Selma building. Thursday night his business has been shut down because engineers declared it unsafe. A city owned building collapsed next door to his shop.
Garabedian says city leaders were repeatedly warned over the past two years about the building's deteriorating condition. The Selma mayor says he was unaware of any danger at the vacant warehouse.
The city purchased the building several years ago with hopes of turning it into a performing arts theater. When the economy took a hit, those plans fell through.
Demolition crews are trying to find out how to clean up the debris. Some asbestos has also been found in the building.
