Board Upholds Permit for Retaining-Wall Work After Neighbor Concerns Over Safety and Coordination

Neighbors and a retained engineer told the Board of Appeals the retaining wall at 2119/2120 Second Street is failing and urged a two‑week continuance for joint site engineering and bracing plans. Pat Buskovich, representing downhill neighbors, asked for a pause so the parties' engineers could develop a coordinated means-and-methods approach for shoring existing walls. He said the neighbors supported a site visit and joint engineering review before work resumed.

Rodrigo Santos, the project structural engineer (and later speaking for the owner), described an implemented sequence of construction, a geotechnical engineer on-site and a bracing/shoring plan: "This is a structural emergency," Santos said, urging immediate action and noting the permit had been vetted by DBI and a licensed geotechnical engineer. Owner representatives offered to share sequences of construction and inspections with neighbors and DBI. DBI senior inspector Joe Duffy told the board the permit was issued to comply with a notice of violation and that the department would monitor work and intervene if it appeared unsafe.

Commissioners balanced the urgency of stabilizing a failing wall against neighbors' calls for coordination. After discussion, the board denied the appeal and allowed the permit work to proceed, voting 4-0. The decision included DBI's offer to conduct a pre-construction site visit and to coordinate inspections; the board recorded concerns about occupancy on cribbing and emphasized the need for clear communication with neighbors during construction.