Four days before an apartment building in Iowa collapsed, an engineering firm warned that it appeared to be at risk of collapse.
TO letter dated May 24, Select Structural Engineering said large patches of brick «appear imminently poised to fall» and put forward repair recommendations «to prevent the entire face of the building from sagging when lower areas loosen.»
The engineers also warned that “the brick façade is unlikely to remain in place, but it can be torn down in a safe and controlled manner.”
City officials said Thursday they did not order residents to vacate because they relied on assurances from the engineering team that the building was safe.
The 116-year-old building in Davenport, Iowa, partially collapsed over the weekend and the whereabouts of three people remain unknown, police said Thursday.
They were identified as: Branden Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, 60.
Earlier this week, police said five were missing, but two of those people have been located: one moved a month ago and was in Texas, and another was in Davenport.
Davenport Police Chief Jeffery Bladel said there is a «high probability» that the three missing people were home when part of the building collapsed and are in «that collapsed space.»
«All the information they give us is that space is not sustainable for life,» he added.
Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said there is no timetable for the demolition as officials work with experts to find a way to safely demolish the building and recognize it as a «resting place.»
Documents reveal the city interacted with the building’s owner more than 100 times in the last 3 years
The city released a series of documents and permits Wednesday night showing a history of tenant complaints and issues plaguing 324 Main Street.
Asked by reporters during a news conference Thursday why the building was not closed despite countless problems, city officials said the collapse is «new for our city» and that they relied on a report from May from an engineering firm hired by the property owner who deemed the structure safe.
Here are the most damning revelations in the released documents:
- There were a total of 145 interactions between the city and the property and owner Andrew Wold from 2020 to 2023
- Those interactions included inspections and documented complaints from tenants encompassing water leaking through ceilings, faulty plumbing, no heat for months, overflowing trash cans, and worsening cracks in walls.
- Five «notice to vacate letters» were issued to different apartment units between 2020 and 2023 due to «poor conditions» and after multiple inspections found the problems had not been fixed.
- A letter from Fire Chief Jim Morris dated March 13 said an inspection found several fire hazard issues, including faulty emergency lighting, malfunctioning fire doors and outdated smoke detectors. The letter stated: «The lack of response with this property is unacceptable.»
- There were also multiple notices that city code inspectors were unable to access the building.
- The building was declared a nuisance in May 2022 due to various solid waste violations. Wold was ordered to pay a $4,500 fine after he failed to appear in court, The Associated Press informed.
- A city notice dated Feb. 2 said a field inspection showed problems that required immediate attention. He said that «part of the southwest wall has been gradually failing» and «There is visible collapse of this outer load-bearing wall below the support beam.» He also said the exterior brick siding split, allowing rain and ice to accumulate and cause «more damage.» It said that «emergency eviction orders will be posted on the building if the failed masonry area is not secured under this letter.»
Property owner cited
A summons was filed against Wold in Scott County Court on Tuesday for failing to maintain the building in a safe and sanitary condition. The city asked for a $300 fine plus court costs.
“The City of Davenport requests that the court order the defendant to commit no further violations of the provisions of the city code,” the citation reads.
City attorney Tom Warner said the subpoena was filed to prevent Wold from transferring the property to avoid the demolition order.
The court date is set for June 9.
Since the collapse, there has been outrage and frustration with the city’s handling of the building and the consequences of the collapse.
Previous and recent tenants of the historic Iowa apartment building said they had complained to management for years about cracks in the walls, lack of heat and air conditioning and plumbing problems, but were consistently ignored.
Asked Thursday if the city should have vacated the building to prevent such a disaster, Mayor Mike Matson simply said, «I have the same anger and concern.»
Wold purchased the historic property in June 2021. He issued his first public comment since Sunday’s collapse on Tuesday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our tenants and families during this difficult time,” said a statement signed by Andrew Wold and the Village property management team.
“We have been working closely with the American Red Cross and other agencies to help displaced renters affected by this event. We will always be grateful for all your help with our tenants,» the brief statement said.