If there is one positive thing that can be said about the now-condemned apartment building on the 200 block of Broad Avenue, across from the front of the Jaffa Shrine Center in Altoona, it’s that it gave a warning before reaching a moment of disastrous collapse.

Having extended that consideration to the neighborhood and the city as a whole, the building allowed all residents of the seven occupied apartments to leave safely — and take most, if not all, of their possessions with them.

Had the situation played out in a more negative way, only one’s imagination can project what the toll of injury, death or loss of possessions might have been to residents – even to passers-by on foot or motorists driving by.

Instead of such a feared incident, the scope of the problem is that of an understandably troublesome, financially costly and inconvenient nuisance and temporary setback – rather than a pick-up-the-pieces scenario.

Thus, justifiably, the city, building owner and residents can express a sigh of relief and feel very lucky and thankful, all considered.

For example, a catastrophic collapse could have been an insurance nightmare and spawned questions about responsibility for whatever had resulted. The resulting situation could have been complicated, requiring years to sort out and argue, perhaps even in some courtroom.

Meanwhile, residents at the time of the collapse could have been thrust into limbo over how their individual best interests eventually would be resolved.

Nevertheless, what exactly transpired in recent days likely will not be resolved in a few days or even a few weeks. It could take a few months, perhaps even longer, before residents are satisfied with whatever compensation might be available for their inconvenience and the cost of temporary living arrangements.

Some residents might not ever feel satisfied with the settlements with which they will have to accept, to bring closure to what they will have had to endure over whatever period of time.

Initially, the situation involving the building had been explained as “observed structural deficiencies,” which was a fair characterization, although still requiring residents to move out without delay.

According to an article in the Mirror’s July 18 edition, evidence of the problem that led to condemnation included veneer stone blocks falling off the apartment building’s facade and a couple of bricks falling off its side. Concern also centered on a small tree growing at the front edge of the roof.

A much worse situation emerged shortly thereafter, as an article in this past weekend’s Mirror disclosed.

Mirror reporter William Kibler, who has been covering the apartment building story, reported that “the five-course-thick brick wall on the left side of the apartment building … has bowed out alarmingly.”

“Something is shifting very, very fast,” Allen Thompson, the broker for the building’s owner, ALT Realty Group, told Kibler in a telephone interview.

According to Thompson, the building’s owner was awaiting an evaluation of the building this week by a structural engineer, and he said the owner would “know better” what to do about it.

All considered, the owner might be facing a major, costly task that might necessitate a decision about whether an attempt should be made to try to save the building.

For now, the city — particularly those people impacted directly — need to feel grateful that they are safe, despite their current inconveniences, since help agencies are trying to assist them, where necessary.