Parts of Colorado Avenue in old Colorado City closed for hours Friday, after pieces of the famous Michael Garman Gallery building collapsed onto the sidewalk below.

The facade and parts of the balcony were nothing but crumbled debris after it fell three stories to the ground.

"We had a gallery full of people and a street full of people. We’re awfully lucky no one was hurt,"said Michael Garman, owner of the building.

According to one witness, a couple was inches from disaster. He said the debris nearly struck both of them.

Friday afternoon, emergency crews made sure the Garman building was structurally sound.

"The individuals who've already taken a look at the upper levels are feeling comfortable that the structure itself is intact," said building official Curtis Martinell.

At night fall, firefighters finished placing wood braces along the top half of the building as a safety precaution in case other parts of the building became vulnerable

Martinell says Garman requested an inspection of the roof Friday, but icy conditions didn't allow for the inspection.

Garman has also been asked to put up a barricade in front of his studios until the roof is fixed.

No cause has been reported.