Bliss Building Demolition Update

To protect the public, the City of Albuquerque is stepping in to perform the demolition of the Bliss Building after the property owners failed to follow through on their promise to demolish the collapsing building. The demolition by the City began Tuesday, June 30, and is expected to take several weeks to complete. During this time, temporary road closures at 5^th Street and Central will remain in effect due to ongoing structural instability and safety concerns. Central is expected to fully reopen by July 15, while 5^th Street will remain closed for the duration of the demolition. This plan remains subject to change if unanticipated safety concerns arise. 

Initially the property owners said they would conduct the demolition with Guzman Construction. Guzman Construction then obtained a demo permit on May 29 and began conducting their assessment in order to properly demolish the structure. The City then learned that the private arrangement fell apart, so it was forced to step back in to complete the demolition before more problems arise.

“I know I’m not the only one who’s sad to lose this great old building,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “But our priority is keeping people safe, and moving quickly enough to minimize both risk as well as impact to downtown businesses, residents and visitors.”

“The City agreed to step aside based on the property owners’ word that they would take care of the demolition themselves,” said Planning Department Director Alan Varela. “It has become very clear that they are unable or unwilling to perform the demolition in a timely manner, so the City is jumping back in to stop more harm from being inflicted on our downtown and neighboring businesses.  Our duty to protect the public requires us to act and many would say we should have done it sooner but the City wanted to give the owners a very reasonable opportunity.”

The Planning Department, through Code Enforcement, had been monitoring the property for several weeks because of structural safety concerns. Below is a timeline of the response:

• Code Enforcement conducted an external inspection of Lindy’s Diner on March 20, 2026, after a local news outlet contacted the Planning Department regarding a tip.
• Between March 21 and April 10, Code Enforcement received two separate complaints through the City’s 311 system from different parties concerning the property.
• These complaints along with the initial inspection prompted an additional inspection of the building on April 2.
• Findings from that inspection warranted a more in-depth evaluation, which was conducted on April 20.
• Following the April 20 evaluation, the property was red-tagged and issued an emergency shutdown order due to concerns about potential structural collapse.
• On April 27, just after noon, a portion of the building collapsed. City personnel responded immediately to secure the area. A permit for debris removal was issued, and debris was tested for asbestos as part of standard safety protocols.
• On April 29, the City completed its initial review of the building and contracted a structural engineer to verify its findings. Test results showed no asbestos in the debris pile; however, asbestos was identified within the structure, specifically in sections of piping and flooring adhesive. Appropriate safety measures are being taken to manage the hazardous materials.
• On April 30, an independent structural engineer completed a secondary review of the property to further evaluate the condition of the structure. They concluded that it was unstable and needed to be demolished.
• The property owners then requested a two-week extension on May 15 saying they would perform the demolition themselves. The property owners were also granted expanded access to enter the property at their own risk to conduct necessary assessments and remove personal property.
• On May 29, Guzman Construction Solutions was issued a demolition permit for the Bliss Building.
• On June 17 the City learned that the agreement with Guzman Construction dissolved and the property owners were not willing to follow through with their contract.
• On June 18 Code Enforcement sent the property owners a letter requesting immediate action to get the demolition back on schedule, but they did not respond.

The City takes the condition of all buildings and structures seriously and is focused on public safety. Nearby businesses remain open and accessible, and people are encouraged to continue supporting downtown restaurants, shops, arts venues, and local events.