Demolition crews are actively working at the old Solomon Auction Building in Jacksonville’s Urban Core after the building collapsed Monday evening. The Solomon Auction Building, while old, is not considered historic; however, its recent destruction raises questions about the criteria for preserving buildings and when it might be time to let go.

Over the last 15 years, there have been three major building collapses in the Jacksonville area: The Berkman Plaza II in 2007, the Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside parking garage in 2023, and the collapse of a building in Jacksonville’s Urban Core on Monday evening. News4JAX spoke with Mark Kilgore, a forensic structural engineer, who pointed to a couple of factors that could contribute to structure failures, including the age of the building, a lack of maintenance, and water intrusion.

A collapsed building has caused road closures near Jacksonville’s Urban Core, according to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department.

A collapsed building has caused road closures near Jacksonville’s Urban Core, according to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department.

A man was shot in the stomach while standing in Jacksonville’s Urban Core, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

According to News4JAX’s partners at Jacksonville Daily Record, the vacant J. Allen Axson Elementary School could become the home for multiple businesses, including a hotel, restaurant, bar, and self-storage units.

Some investors are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into making the River City’s Urban Core district more appealing to locals and tourists alike.