Commission hears technical testimony on Crown Terrace collapse; urges DBI to secure open cut

The Building Inspection Commission heard extensive testimony on Jan. 15 about the Dec. 16, 2013 Crown Terrace job-site incident in which site preparation caused an existing single-family house to come off its shoring and slide down the slope. City Attorney representative John Malamet advised the commission to take public comment and avoid actions that could undermine ongoing DBI and City Attorney investigations.

Project team members and technical consultants addressed the panel. Rodrigo Santos, the project’s structural engineer, apologized and said the team "take[s] full responsibility for it" and described a comprehensive design review by the department’s Structural Advisory Committee. Luke O’Brien, speaking for the project sponsor, described the failure as an "implementation problem, not a violation of processes or codes," and asked the commission to allow the project to resume once investigations are complete.

Adjacent-property representatives urged more urgent stabilization. Patrick Vuskovich, representing a homeowner whose house is immediately downhill, said he arrived at the scene within minutes and urged immediate foundation work to protect the neighbor’s property, noting the open cut and potential for rain to worsen the situation. Geotechnical engineer Frank Rollo, who chaired the SAC review, said the design review was "thorough, complete" but that "the implementation of the design failed," and recommended immediate installation of shoring, rock bolts along the south property line of 115 Crown Terrace, continuous special-inspection observation and frequent written photographic reports to DBI.

Neighbors’ counsel Steve Williams told commissioners the site remains unstable, that neighbors can hear pieces of the building crumbling, and that neighbors favor removal of remaining structure rather than reusing it in a new building. DBI staff described recent site visits and monitoring: Deputy Director Ed Swinney said DBI had engineers and inspectors on site, that springs and some groundwater were present, and that a program of weatherproofing, surface-drainage protection and foundation work would be required. Swinney estimated construction work to stabilize the open cut would take roughly a month to six weeks.

Commissioners asked technical questions about monitoring frequency, geologic observation and sequencing of work. Several commissioners, including Commissioner Walker and Commissioner Lee, emphasized that safety and securing the site before winter rains are the top priorities. While the City Attorney cautioned against actions that could prejudice future abatement appeals or enforcement proceedings, the commission expressed its "desire to recommend to the director to make the open cut safe for the community and the neighbors" and asked DBI to proceed as appropriate within its jurisdiction, clarifying that such remedial work should not be construed as resumption of the underlying construction project.

Director Tom Hui told the panel that DBI’s field investigations were well underway and expected written reports shortly. Commissioners said they would reconvene on the matter once DBI and the City Attorney’s investigations produce final reports.

Next procedural steps are for DBI to secure the site, pursue the necessary permits for stabilization work, and report back to the commission when investigations and implementation plans are ready.