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Stafford council directs immediate safety measures after Civic Center structural assessment
Summary
After a structural assessment found foundation settlement, cracked masonry and at‑risk granite panels at the Stafford Civic Center, council voted to have staff cordon off hazardous areas and return with a study and cost estimates for immediate protections and longer‑term repairs.
Council members and engineers on Wednesday reviewed a structural assessment of the Stafford Civic Center that documented foundation settlement, cracked masonry and facade panels that may become dislodged.
A consultant who inspected the building told the council he found areas where masonry blocks behind granite panels had deteriorated and recommended targeted inspection, soil borings and a staged engineering response. "There's a very, distinct possibility that some of those panels could come off," the structural engineer said, and recommended cordoning off the at‑risk area immediately.
Council members pressed for protections for event attendees and school users of the building. "I don't want anyone to be in harm's way," one council member said, noting the facility hosts graduations and school ceremonies. The council approved a motion directing staff to address the immediate safety concerns with stronger barriers (more than cones), isolate hazardous zones, and return with cost estimates for a detailed study and possible temporary anchoring solutions.
Staff and consultants outlined next steps: soil borings and a more detailed structural study to develop a reliable repair estimate, televising sewer lines to check for damaged utilities, and options ranging from targeted stabilization to a full replacement analysis. Staff estimated the next‑step study would be substantially more than the initial assessment and suggested a planning budget in the low hundreds of thousands to secure safety measures and complete subsurface work.
The council’s directive creates short‑term safety work and a requirement for staff to return with firm numbers and a plan for community input on longer‑term decisions (repair, sell, or rebuild).
