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Board hears timeline for demolition and sidewalk safety after south-side building collapse
Summary
City staff said property owners have lawyers apportioning responsibility after a south-side building collapse; the city will require owners to present a permit and plan within about 10 days of the attorneys’ decision and will keep sidewalks fenced and secured while engineers assess structural issues.
City staff updated the board July 9 on a multi-property collapse on Fayetteville’s south side and the city’s near-term steps to protect public safety.
Public Works said property owners have engaged attorneys to divide responsibility for demolition costs; when the owners’ attorneys agree on responsibilities city staff will expect a demolition permit and a written plan. Staff recommended giving owners about 10 business days after the attorneys’ allocation to produce a permit and construction plan; if they do not, staff said fines could follow. “Once the attorney decide how much area each one's responsible for… we'll give them 10 days to get something… the permission permit needs to be written by then, or else we can start applying some fines,” Jack said.
Staff said the city is not currently requiring the owners to backfill basements and that some basements or partial walls may remain until owners start a construction plan. Because sidewalks adjacent to the damaged properties are undermined, staff emphasized the city must secure and maintain the public right-of-way and may need engineering and retaining walls if the city elects to rebuild an independent sidewalk. An engineering firm is scheduled to inspect the site and provide an assessment; staff said that assessment will inform whether the city backfills or waits for private construction to proceed.
Board members and staff discussed timing and responsibilities, with staff noting daily coordination with owners and the engineers; the chair said the city will keep the sidewalk closed and secured until it is safe. The transcript records no formal order to perform city-funded backfill or reconstruction; staff said those options will be evaluated after the engineering report and the owners’ submitted plans.
Next steps: the city is awaiting the owners’ attorneys’ allocation of responsibilities, will consult the structural engineer due to visit, and will return recommendations (including any permitting or enforcement actions) to the board.
